The Management of Stomach Cancer

Cancer Treatment

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When a person get a cancer diagnosis, they receive treatment that is tailored to fit their needs and depends on a number of factors such as location, age of person, general health, size of tumor, and extent of tumor.

When cancer is found in the stomach, it is usually always hard to cure unless it is found in the early stages. Information at stomachcancer.org talks of how essential it is to see the doctor regularly and getting an early diagnosis through regular yearly checkups can indicate if cancer or other problems exists.

The hard part of detecting stomach cancer in the early stages is that it causes very few symptoms and is usually in the advanced stage when a diagnosis is given. Treatment of stomach cancer may include radiation therapy, which is used to damage cancer cells and stops their growth with the use of high energy rays. This treatment is usually used in combination with chemotherapy and surgery or can be used just with chemotherapy when the patient is unable to go through surgery.

Other treatments for stomach cancer include EMR which is an early treatment where the tumor only has mucosa, Multimodality therapy, which is the combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery, and surgery which is the taking away of the lymph nodes and all or a part of the stomach. Although chemotherapy is used in the treatment for stomach cancer, the cancer has not been very sensitive to the drugs and when it is used it typically relieves symptoms, decreases the tumor size, and lengthens the survival time.

 

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The Epidemiology of Stomach Cancer

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Stomach cancer is ranked 4th worldwide of the most common type of cancer with 930,000 cases being reported in 2002. This disease carries a high mortality rate with about 800,000 deaths each year which makes it 2nd to lung cancer as being the most common cause of cancer throughout the world. This cancer is also more prevalent in developing countries and with men.

Of those with stomach cancer, about 80 to 90 % get metastasis, which is the spread of the cancer from one part or organ to another non-adjacent part or organ. Early detection is key to the outcome of a treatment plan and stomachcancer.org explains the importance of getting yearly checkups. Once metastasis occurs, there is a 6 month survival rate of 65 percent for individuals diagnosed in the early stages of cancer and less than 15 percent for individuals that have cancer in late stages.

Some amazing percentages includes one in 50 individuals within every age group that seeks medical attention for indigestion and burping has stomach cancer. In addition, one in a million individuals that are below the age of 55 who seek medical attention for indigestion has stomach cancer.

Another amazing percentages is that in 1996, the mortality rate in Taiwan was 11.75 out of 100,000 individuals. In addition,from 10 million individuals in the Czech Republic, only three stomach cancer cases for those under 30 years old was diagnosed in 1999. Some studies indicate that less that 5 percent of these cancers result in individuals below 40 years old and 81.1 percent of the five percent that are in the age group of 30-39.

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Coping Effectively with Stomach Cancer

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When a gastrointestinal tumor is formed by cancer cells in the stomach or the stomach lining is attacked by them, a person most likely will get a stomach cancer diagnosis. Often, the diagnosis may lead to a condition that is terminal; however, many patients with this cancer have found ways to live a better life with the cancer.

It is important that every individual goes on their annual medical check like those at stomachcancer.org and if given a diagnosis of stomach cancer, it is important to learn about the statistics of this cancer and use every tool and service that is available to them to live the best life possible with the cancer.

The patient should speak often with their physician about the stomach cancer condition. This cancer is not always terminal but consulting with the doctor about issues such as life expectancy and diagnosis is the best way to develop an appropriate plan for living with the cancer. The first step to living with the cancer is to adhere to the treatment and care instructions that the doctor prescribed. The patient should also follow the doctors’ orders precisely in the areas of exercise, rest and diet.

It is also important to establish a support base to help cope with the stomach cancer condition. There are support groups that have individuals with the same or similar condition that can be a great source of support as they explain how they are living with the cancer. The support of family, friend’s clergy etc… is also very important and can be a way to talk openly about fears, death, and more.

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Cancer Treatment Information

Cancer

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Stomach cancer is also referred to as gastric cancer and can develop in any area of the stomach and can spread all through the stomach in addition to other organs such as the liver, lymph nodes, lungs, and esophagus. This cancer is responsible for causing around 800,000 worldwide deaths each year. Cancer treatment is customized to fit a person’s particular need and depends on the location, size, extent of the tumor, the state of the disease, and the person’s general health.

Cancer of the stomach presents a number of complexities and may be hard to cure unless found at early. It is important for patients to follow precise plans and instructions such as ones found at stomachcancer.org in order to increase their chances of curing their cancer.

Some stomach cancer treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. There is current clinical trials that involve new approaches in the treatment for stomach cancer called biological therapy in addition to improvements in existing methods.

The most common method for stomach cancer is surgery. Through the surgical procedure, the physician removes a portion of the stomach in addition to the lymph nodes in the hopes of all the cancer being removed and some normal tissue. Depending on the tumors location and the extent the tumor is within the stomach, included in surgery may be the removal of a portion of the pancreas or intestine. Tumors located in the stomach’s lower are may require a Billroth I and II procedure.

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The Survival Rate of those with Stomach Cancer

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Stomach cancer, often called gastric cancer can form in the immune, hormonal or glandular system cells and tissues of the nervous system. Most cases of stomach cancer are glandular where cancer cells develop within the lining glands of the stomach which secrete mucus that wards off the acidic juices in the stomach.

Information at stomachcancer.org can tell you it is very important get an annual medical checkup in order to prevent and diagnose serious health problems. If a diagnosis of stomach cancer is received it is important to follow the doctors customized treatment plan for a better outcome.

With a cancer prognosis, a five year survival rate is the typical life expectancy. This means the percentage of cancer patients who live after the five years of the initial diagnosis. With stomach cancer patients, the survival rates is mostly dependant on the location and type of cancer tumor, the condition of the cells, age, and the stage of development of the cancer.

Because stomach cancer is rare, it is often caught in the late stages of development and according to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for those with stomach cancer is 28%. When the cancer cells are present at stage 0, patients are amongst the 90% survival rate. Patients with a 1A stage diagnosis where the cancer has spread beneath the connective tissue are those with a 78% survival rate. With a 1B stage diagnosis, when the cancer has also spread under the major muscle layer or the lymph nodes are amongst the 58% survival rate. Individuals that have a diagnosis of stage II are those with a 34% survival rate.

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