Stomach Cancer

Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer

Your risk of developing gastric cancer depends on your:

• Age
• Diet (Avoid heavily salted and smoked food. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.)
• Gender (Men have a slightly higher risk.)
• History of stomach diseases, such as helicobacter pylori infection or chronic gastritis

Symptoms

Your symptoms may vary depending on where cancer starts and how (or if) it spreads. Early symptoms may include bloating, heartburn, indigestion, stomach discomfort or pain, loss of appetite or mild nausea.

In more advanced stages of stomach cancer, you may experience:

• Ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
• Blood in the stool
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
• Pain
• Trouble swallowing
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

When to See a Doctor

Talk to your doctor as soon as you experience any symptoms of stomach problems. When gastric cancer is found early, you have a better chance of recovery.

Diagnosis 

To diagnose your condition, your doctor may recommend:

• Blood tests
• Barium swallow – Look for stomach cancer using a special type of X-ray called fluoroscopy, which shows your digestive tract in real time
• Physical exam and medical history overview
• Stomach endoscopy – Places a small camera and sometimes a tiny ultrasound device into your stomach through your throat to look for signs of cancer

Stages of Stomach Cancer

Your prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the stage and extent of cancer and your general health. Your stomach has five layers, and you’re most likely to experience a good outcome if cancer remains in the outer layers.

Your doctor will assign a number to your stage of cancer, from stage I to stage IV. The lower stages are less severe.

Treatment

Receive a customized care plan to fit your needs and preferences. Your treatment plan may include one or more of the following.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug that travels throughout your body to kill cancer cells that may have spread beyond your stomach. You may receive chemotherapy alone or combined with radiation therapy or another treatment.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-powered energy beams to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is often combined with chemotherapy.

Surgery

Surgery offers the best treatment option for stomach cancer since it can remove all cancerous tissue around your stomach. Your doctor may recommend:

• Gastrectomy – Removes all of the stomach and connects your esophagus to your small intestine
• Partial gastrectomy – Removes part of the stomach when tumors are small
• Surgery to remove other organs – Treats tumors that grow outside of the stomach, such as in the spleen

Robotically Assisted Surgery

Receive the highest level of surgical care, including minimally invasive, robotically assisted surgical approaches that can reduce pain and speed your recovery. Trust our expertise because we performed the region's first robotically assisted gastrectomy, a potentially life-saving procedure to remove a section of the stomach after a gastric cancer diagnosis.