What to Expect from Terminal Stomach Cancer: All about Survival and Treatment

Stomach cancer is the 6th most common cancer in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the year 2018, stomach cancer caused 783,000 deaths worldwide. The stomach cancer survival rate for 5-years is 32%. However, if it is localized, the success rate is 69%.

Even with the best stomach cancer treatment options, in India, it is the 5th most common amongst males and seventh most common amongst females. That is why, if you or your doctor suspects you might have stomach cancer or similar symptoms, it is in your best interest to approach a specialist cancer doctor like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top stomach cancer doctor in Noida.

Important insights of stomach cancer

Metastatic stomach cancer, also called stage 4 stomach cancer, is not always terminal. Although it might no longer be curable, in most cases, it is treatable to an extent. When the cancer is at stage 4, it has spread throughout the body.

Researchers and cancer doctors agree that while the cause of stomach cancer is not known, there are some risk factors. Some of these risk factors are inflammation of the stomach, Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, poor diet, obesity, lack of exercise, and family history of stomach cancer.

According to top cancer doctors, some of the symptoms of stomach cancer may be discomfort or pain or both in the stomach, nausea & vomiting, sudden weight loss, difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, blood in the stool, and feeling bloated after a small meal.

How fast does stomach cancer spread and how far?

Stomach cancer is slow-growing cancer, which generally develops over a year or longer. The patient is asymptomatic in the early stages in most cases. However, as the disease develops, more and more symptoms become visible.

Now, where does stomach cancer usually spread to? That’s a common question that people with risk factors, people with newly diagnosed stomach cancer, and people who are experiencing some symptoms of the same ask their cancer doctor.

Metastatic or stage 4 stomach cancer is when cancer has already spread throughout the body. As discussed above, it has now gone beyond the stomach and nearby lymph nodes to distant areas, like the liver, peritoneum (membrane lining of the abdominal cavity), lungs, or bones, through tissue, bloodstream, or lymphatic system.

You need to go to the best oncologist in Delhi NCR or the place where you live to find the best stomach cancer treatment options for you if you’re in a later stage of stomach cancer.

Best treatment options for stomach cancer

Is stomach cancer curable? At early stages, like most cancer, stomach cancer is curable. But, when it is at stage 4, it is treatable, not curable. However, there have been some cases of complete remission. Terminal stomach cancer too, has treatments and palliative care.

First off, the treatment the cancer doctor chooses depends on the age, health, and other medical conditions of the patient, along with the characteristics of the specific cancer itself. 

The treatment plan usually involves a combination of different therapies best suited to the patient; and can be adjusted based on how well it’s working and it’s side effects. 

But what are these treatments? Let’s discuss the best stomach cancer treatment options for advanced stomach cancer. 

Laser therapy or stent

To destroy tumors, stop bleeding, or even to alleviate a blockage in the stomach, laser therapy can not only be used, but it can also accomplish it all without surgery. This process is also called endoscopic tumor ablation. 

In some cases, according to top cancer doctors, stents or hollow tubes are inserted between the stomach and esophagus or between the stomach and small intestine to help the food pass through without any obstruction. 

Surgery

Subtotal gastrectomy, the process of removing the part of the stomach with tumors, is often performed by surgeons to alleviate the pain and bleeding in patients. 

A gastric bypass is also an option for patients with tumors in the lower part of the stomach preventing food from passing. In it, the small intestine is attached to the upper part of the stomach to help make the passing of food easier. 

For people who have difficulty eating due to stomach cancer, a feeding tube is surgically inserted through the skin into the stomach so that he/she can get the nutrients needed. 

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is another one of the common treatments of stomach cancer. It is a systemic treatment for treating tumors throughout the body. It shrinks tumors, relieves symptoms, and prolongs life. 

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is another common treatment plan favored by cancer doctors worldwide for stomach cancer. It is directed at specific tumors and can shrink the tumors, stop the bleeding, and relieve pain. 

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy can be used to attack specific characteristics of advanced stomach cancer. Some of the drugs are:

• imatinib (Gleevec), for stromal tumors
• ramucirumab (Cyramza), for advanced stomach cancer, if other treatments aren’t effective
• regorafenib (Stivarga), for stromal tumors
• sunitinib (Sutent), for stromal tumors
• trastuzumab (Herceptin), for HER2-positive tumors

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy drugs boost the immune system and help it attack the tumor on its own. For example, Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is an immunotherapy drug used to treat stomach cancer that has returned or spread in people who have tried but didn’t respond to or stopped responding to two or more types of chemotherapy.

Several clinical trials are going on in the world targeting stomach cancer, and it’s symptoms today, which, in fruition, can help a lot of people. 

People with stomach cancer can also suffer from malnutrition often because the disease can interfere with eating and how food goes through the digestive system. That is why experienced cancer doctors often ask their patients to consult nutritionists or opt for surgical procedures, as mentioned above. 

The cancer doctor and nutritionist can also prescribe dietary supplements, pain relievers, or other medications to help deal with a variety of symptoms.

Ending the discussion…

Symptoms of stomach cancer do not guarantee a confirmed diagnosis because the symptoms can often be of other diseases or temporary. Also, a metastatic stomach cancer diagnosis cannot be based on symptoms alone. So, if you’re suspecting stomach cancer, for diagnosis or for getting more insights, you can consult an expert in the field like Dr. Manish Singhal, a top cancer specialist in Delhi.

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