Treatment for stomach cancer may be done through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, depending on the type of cancer and the person’s overall health.
Stomach cancer, in the early stages, has few symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.Some symptoms of stomach cancer include heartburn, indigestion, feeling full and vomiting.Learn how to identify the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer and what the diagnosis is.
- Stomach cancer surgery is the most common treatment with better results in the treatment of stomach cancer.
- Surgery can be used to remove only cancer.
- Part of the stomach or the entire stomach.
- As well as the lymph nodes in the area.
- Depending on the stage of the disease.
Surgical procedures that may be performed include
When the entire stomach is removed, some lymph nodes are removed around the stomach for testing and whether they contain tumor cells, which would mean that the cancer may have spread.
In addition, for other organs around the stomach, such as the pancreas or spleen, they are invaded by tumor cells and if the doctor understands, these organs can also be removed.
Some side effects of stomach cancer surgery may include heartburn, stomach pain and vitamin deficiency.It is important that patients take vitamin supplements and follow a controlled diet, with smaller meals to avoid these complications.
Chemotherapy for stomach cancer uses drugs to destroy cancer cells, which can be given orally or by injection into the veins.There are several medications used to treat this cancer and are often used in combination for best results.
Chemotherapy may be done before surgery to help reduce the size of the tumor and after surgery to remove cancer cells that may not have been removed.
Some side effects that can occur during chemotherapy treatment include:
Because it works throughout the body, chemotherapy weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of infections in the patient.Side effects usually go away a few days after treatment.
Radiation therapy for stomach cancer uses radiation to destroy, reduce, or control the development of cancer.Radiation therapy may be done after surgery, to destroy very small cells that have not been reduced during surgery, or along with chemotherapy, to prevent cancer from reproducing.
Side effects that radiation therapy may cause may include
Side effects of radiation therapy are more severe when combined with chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy against stomach cancer involves the use of medications that stimulate the patient’s immunity to attack cancer cells in the body.Immunotherapy can be done in conjunction with chemotherapy and helps better control the growth and development of cancer.
Some side effects that can occur during treatment include fever, weakness, chills, nausea, vomiting, cough, and diarrhea. Learn more about immunotherapy, what types and when it is indicated.