Stomach Cancer Surgery

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is a malignant tumor arising from the lining of the stomach. It may often be cured if it is found and treated at an early stage.
Stomach cancers are classified according to the type of tissue where they originate. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the glandular tissue of the stomach and accounts for 90% to 95% of all stomach cancers. Other forms of stomach cancer include lymphomas, which involve the lymphatic system and sarcomas, which involve the connective tissue (such as muscle, fat, or blood vessels).

Stomach Cancer Causes

The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, but a number of factors can increase the risk of the disease, including:

  • Gender -- men have more than double the risk of getting stomach cancer than women.
  • Race -- being African-American or Asian may increase your risk.
  • Genetics -- genetic abnormalities and some inherited cancer syndromes may increase your risk
  • Geography -- stomach cancer is more common in Japan, the former Soviet Union, and parts of Central America and South America.
  • Blood type -- individuals with blood group A may be at increased risk.
  • Advanced age -- stomach cancer occurs more often around ages 70 and 74 in men and women, respectively.
  • Family history of gastric cancer can double or triple the risk of stomach cancer.
  • Lifestyle factors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in salted, smoked, or nitrate-preserved foods may increase your risk
  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection of the stomach. H. pylori is a bacterium that infects the lining of the stomach and causes chronic inflammation and ulcers.
  • Certain health conditions including chronic gastritis, pernicious anemia, gastric polyps, intestinal metaplasia, and prior stomach surgery.
  • Work-related exposure due to coal mining, nickel refining, and rubber and timber processing and asbestos exposure.

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

In the early stages of stomach cancer, you may have very few symptoms. These may include:

  • Indigestion and stomach discomfort
  • A bloated feeling after eating
  • Mild nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Heartburn

These symptoms are similar to those caused by a peptic ulcer. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see your health care provider so that a proper diagnosis can be made and timely treatment given. A stomach cancer can grow very large before it causes other symptoms.
In more advanced cancer, you may have:

  • Discomfort in the upper or middle part of the abdomen.
  • Blood in the stool
  • Vomiting or vomiting blood.
  • Weight loss.
  • Pain or bloating in the stomach after eating.
  • Weakness or fatigue associated with mild anemia.

Stomach Cancer Treatment

Stomach cancer may be treated with the following, in combination, or alone.

  • Surgery (gastrectomy)

    • The goal of surgery is to remove all of the stomach cancer and a margin of healthy tissue, when possible. Options include:
    - Removing early-stage tumors from the stomach lining.
    - Removing a portion of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy).
    - Removing the entire stomach (total gastrectomy).
    - Removing lymph nodes to look for cancer.
    - Surgery to relieve signs and symptoms.

  • Chemotherapy

    • Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. It may be the only treatment used in people with rare forms of stomach cancer, such as gastric lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Chemotherapy side effects depend on which drugs are used. The type of stomach cancer you have determines which chemotherapy drugs you'll receive.

  • Radiation therapy

    • Radiation therapy uses high-powered beams of energy, such as X-rays, to kill cancer cells. The energy beams come from a machine that moves around you as you lie on a table. It can cause diarrhea, indigestion, nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often combined together and can be used before and after surgery in order to shrink a tumor so it's more easily removed and also to kill any cancer cells that might remain in the body, respectively.