Ask another specialist to confirm or deny the diagnosis, get a second
opinion. What to do if the diagnosis is established? Learn as much as possible
about treatment methods and prefer the safest tactics in favor of the body and
for uncompromising control of the tumor. The
Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, characterized
by the emergence and development of tumors from the epithelium of the mucous
membrane of the body. Like other cancers, this type of oncology gradually
develops from stages 1 to 4. Unfortunately, the causes of the disease have not
yet been determined, but it is known that gastritis and ulcers are among the
grounds of the disease.
Reasons:
The disease can also affect the body for the following reasons:
- The presence of the
bacterium Helicobacter pylori.
- Polyps in the digestive
system.
- Stomach surgeries were
performed earlier.
- The presence of pernicious
anemia.
- The prolonged inflammatory
process in the digestive system.
In men, the disease is detected more often than in women. The condition
usually occurs after 40-45 years, although there are many cases of cancer
diagnosis among young people in medical practice.
Localization of gastric cancer
Malignant tumors can be located:
- In the central part of the
stomach (in the body).
- In the department where the
esophagus connects with the stomach (upper department).
- In the department where the
stomach combines with the intestines (lower department).
Symptoms of stomach cancer
Cancer manifests itself in uncharacteristic symptoms in the early
stages, so it is difficult to diagnose the disease.
There is a complex of early signs which is observed in patients with
cancer:
- Weakness of the body;
- Weight loss;
- Abdominal discomfort;
- Decreased efficiency,
fatigue, and depression.
Common signs of the disease also include asthenia, nausea, and pale
skin. In addition, in the process of tumor development and growth, other
symptoms appear pain in the upper abdomen, constipation, an increase in the
size of the stomach, and the accumulation of fluid in it.
Diagnosis of gastric cancer
Detecting the disease in the early stages is quite tricky because its
manifestations resemble the signs of other, less dangerous conditions. In this case,
gastroscopy comes to the aid of specialists - a safe, accurate, and effective
method of diagnosing cancer, which does not use radiation. This method allows
you to examine the cavity of the esophagus and duodenum to give doctors
complete information about the presence of the tumor, its size.
Gastric cancer will also help diagnose:
- Biopsy - a procedure during
which a small part of the tissue is taken from the tumor (tumor, polyp).
This helps doctors determine the nature of oncology and understand whether
a benign or malignant tumor needs to be fought.
- CT of the abdominal cavity
allows detecting the presence of metastases (distant and regional). Also,
CT diagnosis, based on the thickening of the organ wall, can indicate
which of the four stages of cancer is present in the patient.
- Ultrasound of the abdominal
cavity in gastric cancer is as accurate as possible.
- MRI diagnosis visualizes
metastases with an accuracy of more than 80%.
Treatment of gastric cancer
How cancer will be treated and what treatment strategy the doctor will
prefer will depend on many factors: the patient's condition, the location of
the tumor, its shape and size, the involvement of other organs, and finally,
which of the four stages of the disease.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) is one of the best modern
cancer treatment methods, which is successfully used in Europe. Radiotherapy is
operated independently and in combination with other methods (such as
chemotherapy, surgery). In the case of cancer of the central digestive tract,
radiation therapy is often used after surgery.
Radiation therapy is no less effective in the case of metastasis.
Moreover, thanks to the latest technologies used by the technique, it is
possible to treat tumors in mobile organs and near vital organs.
Tomotherapy is the most modern and perfect type of radiation therapy used for
the first time in Ukraine in TomoClinic with the Tomo HD device. With the help
of ionizing radiation, the device acts on cancer cells with maximum accuracy
without affecting healthy tissues and organs.
Treatment of cancer by tomotherapy allows to influence both
single malignant new growths, and numerous metastasizes. In the case of
metastasis, irradiation of all foci of cancer in the patient's body is
performed simultaneously. The
Chemotherapy for stomach cancer
Stage 1 and 2 gastric cancers are often treated surgically, but this
method can rarely be chosen for stage 3. Then the patient is waiting for
chemotherapy, although sometimes the doctor decides to apply it to the surgeon.
At the same time, the new growth of a stomach falls under the influence of
chemotherapeutics, and tumor cells are eliminated, the risk of emergence of
metastasizes decreases. As a result, the patient prolongs his life and
minimizes the number of relapses. In addition, drug treatment can be adjuvant
(after surgery) and non-adjuvant (before surgery, when it is desirable to reduce
the tumor before it).
Chemotherapy is indicated for patients with gastric cancer in other
situations:
- in combination with surgery
- to reduce the symptoms of
oncology with palliative care
- with metastases in the liver
or other organs
- when the tumor germinates in
the abdominal cavity
Depending on the stage of stomach cancer and the type of malignancy, the
chemotherapist will prescribe the right drug.
Radiation therapy at TomoClinic
Often chemotherapy is performed in combination with radiation. TomoClinic
is a modern oncology clinic where every patient can choose tomotherapy to fight
stomach cancer. A whole range of therapeutic techniques can be combined with
this progressive treatment system. The clinic's specialists will make sure that
the patient with gastric cancer is correctly positioned on the table of the
tomography, and the rays are directed precisely at the target, bypassing
healthy organs and tissues.
Radiation therapy
On our linear accelerators, the dose is brought to a tumor continuously
and on a spiral. The beam of rays revolves around a patient with gastric
cancer, and the table moves through the gentry ring. Medical physicists
calculate the beam's trajectory in advance, which means that it falls precisely
into the tumor. In addition, the linear accelerator can "cover"
several foci for therapy in one session. The radiation dose suggested by the
doctor goes to each of them: large and small, single and numerous. The health
of nearby organs and tissues is also preserved.
Treatment protocols
To learn about international treatment protocols from ESMO and NCCN, you
can follow the link (register, download PDF file) and learn more about gastric
cancer therapy:
- Stomach cancer (Stomach
cancer)
- Gastric cancer
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