Effective Strategies for Managing Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric carcinoma, involves the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the stomach lining. Detecting this disease early is challenging since initial symptoms are often subtle or absent. If treatment is delayed, the cancer can metastasize to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. Treatment approaches vary based on the cancer's stage and severity. Common options include chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgical procedures, tailored to each patient’s condition.

Chemotherapy
This approach uses powerful drugs to eradicate cancer cells. Often administered after surgery, chemotherapy aims to eliminate remaining malignant tissues.

Doctors may combine chemotherapy with targeted treatments or radiation therapy for advanced cases.

Radiation therapy
Utilizing high-energy beams, this method destroys cancerous tissues and can help control symptoms like bleeding. Sometimes, radiation is used before surgery to reduce tumor size and facilitate removal.

Immunotherapy
This technique enhances the immune system’s ability to combat cancer. It uses specific medications to block pathways that allow cancer cells to evade immune detection, primarily for advanced or treatment-resistant cases.

Targeted therapy
These medications focus on specific genetic mutations or vulnerabilities within cancer cells. Often combined with chemotherapy, targeted therapies are selected based on individual tumor profiling to optimize treatment.

Surgical options
Surgeons remove cancer-affected tissue through various procedures:

• Endoscopic removal
  Early or small tumors can be excised using minimally invasive techniques like EMR or ESD via endoscope.
• Partial gastrectomy
  The affected portion of the stomach, along with nearby tissues and lymph nodes, is surgically removed.
• Complete gastrectomy
  In extensive cases, the entire stomach is excised, and the esophagus is connected to the small intestine to restore digestive function.