Stomach Cancer Treatment

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is the accumulation of an abnormal (malignant, cancerous) group of cells that form a mass in a part of the stomach. It starts beginning in the lining of the stomach. However the symptoms are really slow and it might take years for people to notice. There are number of stomach cancers which are given below:
•           Adenocarcinoma
•           Lymphoma
•           Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
•           Carcinoid tumor
SYMPTOMS
•           Nausea/vomiting
•           Dysphagia
•           Stomach pain
•           Constant bloating
•           Frequent heartburn
•           Loss of appetite
•           Early satiety
•           Bloody stools
•           Jaundice
•           Excessive fatigue
DIAGNOSIS
•           Upper Endoscopy/ Gastroscopic exam
•           Upper GI series: A series of x-rays of the esophagus and stomach. The patient drinks a liquid that contains barium (a silver-white metallic compound). The liquid coats the esophagus and stomach and x-rays are taken. This procedure is also called a Barium Swallow
•           Blood tests
•           Biopsy
•           CT Scan 
•           MRI
AVAILABLE TREATMENTS IN INDIA:
Surgery
The surgeon’s aim is to remove the stomach cancer from the body as well as a margin of healthy tissue. Taking out tumors from the stomach lining in early stage cancer – the surgeon will use endoscopy to remove very small tumors that are confined to the inside lining of the stomach – this is called endoscopic mucosal resection.
Subtotal gastrectomy – a part of the stomach is surgically removed
Total gastrectomy – the whole stomach is surgically removed
Radiation therapy – High energy rays are used to target and kill cancerous cells. Radiotherapy is not commonly used for the treatment of stomach cancer because of the risk of harming other nearby organs. However, if the cancer is advanced and/or causing serious symptoms like bleeding or severe pain, radiotherapy is an option.
Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is a specialist treatment that uses drugs to stop rapidly-growing cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. Chemotherapy treatment following stomach cancer surgery is known as adjuvant therapy. It may be used along with radiation treatment. Also known as chemoradiation, patients receive both forms of treatment within the same time period. Adjuvant therapy can help destroy stomach cancer cells that remain after surgery.