Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer in the world, and it accounts for 3% to 10% of all cancer-related deaths. The incidence of this disease has declined over the past decades, but it remains a serious public health problem. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer. This may be done through a tube called an endoscope, or by cutting out the tumor with special tools. Another option is to remove part of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy), or all of the stomach if it is too large to be removed by a tube. In total gastrectomy, the surgeon also removes surrounding fatty tissue and lymph nodes to make sure there are no areas where the cancer could grow.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapies are often used first to shrink or destroy the cancer before surgery. They might be given in cycles or taken in pill form.
Systemic chemotherapy uses medicines that travel through your body to kill the cancer cells. This can be given in a vein or taken in pill form. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a type of systemic chemotherapy that goes directly into the belly and kills cancer cells there.
Targeted drug therapy is a type of chemotherapy that targets a protein or other aspect of the cancer. The doctor may recommend this as part of a treatment plan to attack the cancer.
Radiation therapy is a way to kill cancer cells in the body, but it can cause problems with other parts of your body. This can cause a range of symptoms, such as pain and nausea. It can also damage the lining of your esophagus and stomach.
Other treatments can help control symptoms and reduce the chance of recurrence of the cancer. These can include medicine that combines certain chemicals to make them more effective, or a radioactive substance called iodine.
If your cancer is very small, you might be able to have it removed with a procedure called an endoscopic mucosal resection. This is done through a tube called an endoscope that is inserted into your throat and down into your stomach. This is done if your cancer is very small, has not spread to the lining of your stomach or lymph nodes, and shows limited potential for spreading to other parts of your body.
Most patients who are diagnosed with a gastric cancer do not have any symptoms until the cancer has spread to other parts of your body or has become very big. Most doctors use a combination of treatment methods to treat gastric cancer, and it is important for your doctor to know what your goals are so they can recommend the best type of treatment for you.
