Stomach Cancer
Treatment Options
Stomach cancer treatment plans vary from patient to
patient and depend on the stage and location of the cancer, the patient's
age, and general health state. The three main treatment options for stomach
cancer are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Surgery
Surgery is a common treatment option for gastric cancer and is either
curative or palliative. As a curative treatment, the surgery is performed
when the tumor is confined to a certain area, has not spread to adjacent
organs and structures, and the patient's health state is good. As a palliative
treatment, surgery is performed to remove the tumor in order to prevent
tumor bleeding or a stomach blockage.
There are six types of surgeries performed in gastric cancer patients.
The medical decision for the type of surgery performed is based on such
factors as: 1) the cancer stage, 2) the tumor location, 3) the growth
pattern identified on the biopsy tissue sample, and 4) the expected location
of lymph nodes affected.
The six types of surgeries include:
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Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: During this surgical
procedure, the tumor is removed with an endoscope. Endoscopic Mucosal
Resection is only performed in patients with cancer located in the
mucosal layer of the stomach and when there is a low chance for the
cancer to spread.
-
Subtotal Gastrectomy: This is a surgical procedure
where part of the stomach is removed. It is recommended for patients
with cancer located in the lower parts of the stomach near the small
intestine. Sometimes, during subtotal gastrectomy part of the small
intestine is removed along with those parts of the stomach affected
by cancer. Also, the spleen, which filters the blood and removes old
blood cells, is removed as well.
-
Total Gastrectomy: This is a surgical procedure
where the entire stomach is removed. During this procedure, part of
the small intestine, other tissues near the tumor, and the spleen
may also be removed. A total gastrectomy is recommended when the cancer
is located in the upper and middle part of the stomach. During the
surgery, the doctor will try to create a new stomach using part of
the small intestine. The small intestine is then attached to the esophagus
which allows the patient to continue eating after surgery. The disadvantage
of the "new stomach" is that the patient gets full fast.
Therefore, food has to be eaten in small amounts at a time and many
times per day.
-
Endoluminal Stent Placement: This medical procedure
is recommended when the tumor blocks the opening of the stomach and
the complete removal of the stomach cannot be performed. During this
procedure, the doctor inserts a stent (a thin, flexible tube) to keep
the entrance of the stomach opened, allowing the patient to eat normally.
-
Endoscopic Laser Surgery: This surgical procedure
uses an endoscope with a laser attached to remove the tumor. Endoscopic
laser surgery can also be used when the tumor is located at the entrance
of the stomach and blocks the flow of food.
-
Electrocautery: This is a medical procedure that
uses a cauter to remove lesions or control bleeding. The cauter is
a medical instrument which transmits electric current to create heat.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is another
treatment option for gastric cancer. Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer
drugs to stop the growth of the cancer cells by either killing
them or stopping the division process.
These drugs enter the bloodstream and reach all areas of the
body. Gastric cancer patients receive chemotherapy: 1). as the
primary treatment (when the cancer spread to distant organs),
2). in addition to surgery (as an adjuvant treatment - to enhance
the results of the surgery by destroying possible cancerous cells
that could have been left behind and to reduce the risk of cancer
relapse), 3). before surgery (as a neoadjuvant treatment - to
reduce the size of the tumor) and 4). with radiotherapy (it delays
the cancer recurrence and extends the life span of the patient).
Chemotherapy can be administrated through IV, pills and injections
in cycles.
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As like all treatment options, chemotherapy has side effects which include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mouth sore (chemotherapy can cause sore sensations in your mouth and
small ulcers can develop)
- Hair loss (chemotherapy does not only attach and kill cancerous cells,
it also kills healthy cells causing you hair to fall out)
- Bruising and bleeding
- Anemia
- Low resistance to infections
- Tiredness
- Early menopause (for female patients)
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy or radiation therapy is another treatment option for cancer.
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancerous cells.
However, this therapy is not commonly used to treat gastric cancer because
the stomach is located in the abdominal cavity near major organs and radiotherapy
cannot be administrated without affecting them.
Radiotherapy can be prescribed for those patients where the cancer spreads
beyond the stomach and causes pain. Small doses of radiation beam can
releave the pain.
Radiation therapy can be administrated in combination with chemotherapy
in a treatment known as chemo-radiotherapy or after surgery to destroy
cancer cells that remained after surgery.
There are two types of radiation therapy:
-
External radiation therapy uses an
external device (linear accelerator) to generate high-energy rays
that focuses on the targeted area.
-
Internal radiation therapy uses small
radioactive pellets (needles, seed, wires or catheters) implanted
into affected area.
The side effects of this treatment are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue,
and mild skin discomfort.
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Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com
Sources:
Familydoctor.org, Stomach Cancer, July 2005
American Cancer Society, Detailed Guide: Stomach Cancer, March
2006
Layke, John, C., D.,O., Lopez, Peter, P., M., D., American Academy of
Family Physicians, Gastric Cancer: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
National Cancer Institute, Gastric Cancer: Treatment, October 2006
Cancerbackup.org.uk, Stomach, April 2004 |
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