Treatment and Success Rate of Stomach Cancer Treatment
Stomach cancer, otherwise called gastric cancer, occurs when healthy stomach cells become abnormal and grow uncontrollably. It might happen in any part of our stomach. Typically, stomach cancer starts in the lining of our stomachs and spreads progressively. This tumor has the potential to spread to nearby organs. If anyone has been diagnosed with stomach cancer, your doctor may suggest better treatment options for you.
To learn more about stomach cancer treatment and its success rate, please keep reading.
Stomach Cancer Treatment
Depending upon some factors, the physician chooses the various types of treatment for stomach cancer. The treatment options depend on the following factors:
- Type and stage of stomach cancer
- Size and location of the tumor
- How far the cancer has spread
- General and overall patient’s health
Various Treatment Options For Stomach Cancer Include
Surgery: Surgery is generally performed to remove part or all of the stomach cancer. During this surgery, the doctor may remove nearby lymph nodes and tissues. It is the most prevalent type of treatment for all stomach (gastric) cancer stages. There is some surgical procedure for stomach cancer which includes:
- Endoscopic mucosal resection: It is a minimally invasive treatment that uses an endoscope (a tiny, tube-shaped device with a lens and light) to remove early-stage cancer and precancerous growths from the digestive tract lining.
- Subtotal gastrectomy: Removing part of the stomach is called subtotal gastrectomy. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the cancerous part of the stomach, surrounding lymph nodes, and parts of other tissues and organs. The spleen is also removed.
- Total gastrectomy: Removing the entire stomach is called Total gastrectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes the whole stomach, surrounding lymph nodes, and parts of the esophagus, small intestine, and other tissues near the tumor. The spleen may be removed.
Radiation therapy: This therapy uses high-energy X-rays or proton beams to damage the DNA of cancer cells and shrink the tumors. This damage inhibits cancerous cells from proliferating. This therapy is used before surgery to treat stage 2 and 3 stomach cancer. It is used to control cancer symptoms in advanced stomach cancer patients.
Chemotherapy: This treatment approach uses medicines to stop and kill the growth of cancer cells by keeping the cancer cells from growing and dividing. It might be used alone or in combination with radiation therapy.
Targeted therapy: This treatment method can identify and target the genes or proteins involved in cancer cell proliferation by preventing cancer growth. It is used for people with advanced stomach cancer, such as stage 4 stomach cancer and cancer that returns after treatment.
Immunotherapy: This treatment uses the immune system to identify and destroy abnormal cells and prevent cancerous growth. This method is widely used in advanced stomach cancer patients.
The Success Rate Of Stomach Cancer After Treatment
The stomach cancer survival rate or success rate depends upon various factors, including age, types of stomach cancer, stage and grade of cancer, size, and the patient’s response to the treatment. According to stomach cancer statistics, the overall five-year survival rate is 33.3%. If the cancer is detected and treated before it has progressed outside, then the 5-year survival rate is 71.8%. If cancer has progressed to local lymph nodes, surrounding tissues, or organs, then the 5-year survival rate is 32.9%. The 5-year survival rate is 5.9% if cancer has progressed to a distant part of the body.
Conclusion
Stomach cancer can occur anywhere in our stomach. As we discussed earlier, the overall success rate of stomach cancer is 33.3%. It may increase up to 71.8% if this cancer is detected and treated early. Hence, early detection and treatment are very important. Eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding foods that increase cancer risk are also necessary for the treatment and prevention of stomach cancer.
There is a ‘‘CAN’’ in CANCER because we can beat it
