Stomach cancer

Stomach cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the stomach wall grow in an uncontrolled way. The stomach is part of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which forms part of the body’s digestive system.

There are a couple of different tests that may be undertaken to diagnose stomach cancer, including:

• Physical examination
• A blood test to check for anaemia, and in addition testing organ function for example, of the liver
• Checking for any blood via an stool sample examination
• Endoscopy: This is an examination of the inside of the stomach and other parts of the upper digestive system, which is done using an endoscope.
• Biopsy: This involves a tissue sample (known as a biopsy) being taken from the stomach wall, for further examination under a microscope. Generally, a biopsy is taken during an endoscopy.

Your treating doctor will discuss the most appropriate option(s) for treatment with you. The options suggested to you depend upon the stage of the cancer, your overall health, symptom severity, and your personal preference. One of the treatment options suggested to treat stomach cancer may be surgery, with usually two types of surgical treatment suggested:

• Endoscopic resection: This can remove early-stage tumours in the stomach. It’s done using an endoscope.
• Gastrectomy: Surgery to remove all or part of the stomach is called a gastrectomy. The surgeon aims to remove as much of the tumour as possible, including some healthy tissue and lymph nodes, to help reduce the risk of the cancer recurring. There are two types of gastrectomy; partial gastrectomy and total gastrectomy.

Other treatment options for stomach cancer suggested by your doctor may include:

• Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is an approach to cancer therapy which involves the administration of medicine, usually orally or by injection, which is intended to kill cancer cells or minimise their growth and spread. Chemotherapy can be used in conjunction with other cancer treatments.
• Immunotherapy - Immunotherapy is a type of treatment that is intended to help your own immune system fight cancer. There are different types of immunotherapy for cancer that work in different ways.
• Radiation therapy - Radiation therapy may be offered in the early stages of cancer treatment, or after it has started to spread. There are different radiation therapy techniques which may be suitable for different cancer types at different stages.
• Targeted therapy - Targeted therapy refers to treatment with medicines that are designed to specifically attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. These types of medicines affect the way that cancer cells grow, divide, repair themselves or interact with other cells.

At GenesisCare, we understand that a cancer diagnosis can be emotional and life-changing. It’s natural to feel disbelief, anxiety, sadness, anger, and loneliness. We aim to offer a personalised care experience, designed to help you achieve the best possible clinical outcomes.

Our care team will aim to know your name and get to know who you are as a person. Your care will be managed by a multidisciplinary team of passionate healthcare professionals with experience in oncology including: radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, registered nurses, radiation therapists, physicists, and a dedicated team of support staff.

Please contact your local GenesisCare centre for more details on the services available. View a list of our centres here.

If you would like to understand more about support services, plus to learn more about stomach cancer, you may find the below organisations helpful:

Cancer Council Australia
13 11 20
cancer.org.au

Australian Cancer Research Foundation
02 9223 7833
acrf.com.au

GI Cancer Institute
1300 666 769
gicancer.org.au