Treatment of stomach cancer is based on multiple factors like the overall health of the patient, the stage of cancer they suffer from, and the presence of other complications, diseases, and disorders.
There are various treatment options:
- Surgery: Subtotal gastrectomy is used to remove part of the stomach, the nearby lymph nodes, and parts of other organs and tissues near the tumor. Total gastrectomy is employed to remove the entire stomach, parts of the esophagus and small intestine, and other organs and tissues near the tumor. In both cases, the spleen may be removed. The remaining part of the esophagus is connected to the small intestine to allow the patient to have food and drink, and the food consumed moves directly to the small intestine after the surgery.
If the entire tumor cannot be removed and the stomach is still blocked, other treatment options are selected. An endoluminal stent is inserted to ensure that the esophagus and affected arteries are kept open. If the openings in the stomach – from the esophagus to the small intestine – are blocked, stents are placed to bypass the openings – from the esophagus to the stomach, or from the stomach to the small intestine. Endoluminal laser therapy is used to cut away the remaining tumor material. - Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing and multiplying. Systemic chemotherapy is when the drugs are administered either orally or are injected into the bloodstream. The administered drug enters the bloodstream to reach the cancer cells throughout the body. In regional chemotherapy, the drugs are injected into an organ, the abdomen, or the cerebrospinal fluid so that they can act on the tumors in the local area. The stage of stomach cancer determines how the drugs are administered.
- Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses powerful radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. External radiation therapy is done with a machine from outside the body. Internal radiation therapy uses radioactive substances sealed in wires, seeds, catheters, or needles that are inserted directly into the tumor or very close to it. Again, the stage of cancer determines the method of radiation.
Chemo-radiation therapy uses a combination of drugs and radiation to increase the effectiveness of drugs. Chemo-radiation can be given in conjunction with surgery as well. This therapy, when administered before surgery, is called neoadjuvant therapy, and it helps shrink the tumor and makes it easier to remove it. Chemo-radiation after surgery is called adjuvant therapy, and it is used to lower the risk of cancer recurring. - Targeted drugs: For stomach cancer, monoclonal antibody therapy uses drugs that identify and target only the cancer cells without harming the healthy cells. The monoclonal antibodies are delivered through intravenous infusion, and these antibodies target the cancer cells and attach themselves to certain proteins and block the growth of the cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy or biotherapy uses the patient’s immune system to fight and destroy cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy is one such therapy used for destroying stomach cancer cells. This substance allows the body’s natural T-cells to kill cancer cells.
The chances of recovery are higher if the stomach cancer is detected and treated in the earlier stages.
