Gastric Cancer

Like many major parts of the body, the stomach can have non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) conditions. Benign conditions could range from ulcers of various causes to growths from polyps and the muscle wall (GIST) of the stomach. Malignant conditions can arise from lymph nodes (lymphoma), but more often they arise from the innermost covering of the stomach. These lining is known as the “mucosa”. These mucosal cancers are known as adenocarcinomas.

Symptoms associated with stomach cancer:

• Rapid weight loss
• Changes in appetite
• Early fullness
• Lethargy
• Bringing up blood or black stools (blood in stools)
• Bringing up food, nausea/ vomitting
• Worsening reflux

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek early assessment.

Management of stomach cancer

Prior to commencing treatments, it is important to do the following:

• Tumour Staging
  PET/CT imaging to assess the tumour and
  Laparoscopy
• Assessing fitness for surgery
• Multi-disciplinary meeting
  We discuss each case individually and tailor management accordingly between surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists
• Optimising nutrition
  Sometimes an alternative route of feeding is required in patients who can no longer tolerate oral or a liquid diet

Treatment for stomach cancer

With curative intent, your treatment will comprise of one or a combination of the following:

• Chemotherapy
• Surgery

If the cancer had reached a stage where the chance of cure was negligible, palliative operations like gastric bypass or palliative resections can be considered in very selective cases. Never-the-less, these options are still considered major operations and carry prolonged recovery times, high risk with modest benefits. There are other surgical treatments (such as gastric stents) that can provide good relief without affecting survival.

Each treatment pathway is very much individualised according to the tumour, your health and wishes. We will work closely together with you and your loved ones throughout this challenging times.