Gastric Cancer Surgery In India ( Stomach Cancer )

                             Gastric Cancer Surgery In India ( Stomach Cancer )

Gastric cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is the second major cancer worldwide and the fourth most commonly diagnosed. Gastric Adenocarcinoma - the most common gastric cancer - is normally divided into two subtypes: intestinal and diffuse.
Intestinal adenocarcinoma usually develops in portions closer to the intestines and more often affects people over the age of 80.
Diffuse adenocarcinoma is usually found in young patients and those with blood type A. The diffuse form is traditionally called the gastric cancer. Symptoms of gastric cancer are loss of appetite and weight. Generally, the cancer is diagnosed with a biopsy of stomach tissue.

Gastric Cancer Pre-Procedure Requirement

• You may have to undergo blood test or other lab tests.
• Physical examination is mandatory wherein the doctor checks your abdomen for fluid, swelling, swollen lymph nodes or other changes.
• You will undergo endoscopy: a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) to look into your stomach. The tube is passed through your mouth and esophagus to the stomach.
• Biopsy: the endoscope removes tissue from the stomach. A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only sure way to know if cancer cells are present.
• A chest x-ray of your chest is to check whether cancer has spread to the lungs.
• CT scan: An x-ray machine linked to a computer takes a series of detailed pictures of your organs. Tumors in your liver, pancreas, or elsewhere in the body can show up on a CT scan.
• Endoscopic ultrasound: a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) down your throat. The picture can show how deeply the cancer has invaded the wall of the stomach. A needle maybe used to take tissue samples of lymph nodes.
• Laparoscopy: a thin, lighted tube (laparoscope) through small incisions in your abdomen. Lymph nodes or tissue samples are removed for biopsy.

Gastric Cancer Surgery Procedure

The treatment depends mainly on the tumor's size and position, the stage of the cancer and the patient's general health. Treatment for Gastric cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Discuss with your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial - a research on new treatment methods. Clinical trials may be important for patients at any stage of stomach cancer.

There are two Gastrectomy procedures:

Partial Gastrectomy, also known as subtotal Gastrectomy, for tumors in the lower stomach. The lower stomach with the cancer is removed. The remaining portion is attached to the intestine, nearby the lymph nodes. Other tissues may also be removed.

Total Gastrectomy for tumors in the upper stomach.The entire stomach will be removed, nearby lymph nodes, the esophagus in parts and small intestine and other tissues near the tumor. Rarely, but the spleen also may be removed. The esophagus is then directly connected to the small intestine.

Gastric Cancer Post Procedure Advice

After the gastric cancer treatment, the cancer is destroyed in some cases. They may be relieved to have completed the treatment but could also start worrying about the cancer's return. In other people, the cancer may never go away entirely. The follow-up care will include the doctor closely monitoring the patient even after the completion of the gastric cancer treatment. During these follow-up visits, doctor inquires about symptoms, conducts physical exams and lab tests. Follow-up checkups are important to track side effects and to check for cancer that has come back. Undergoing a gastric cancer surgery will mean that your eating habits will need to change to some extent. You might not be able to eat large amounts of food at one time. People who had the upper part of their stomach removed will likely need to have their vitamin blood levels tested and may also need to get vitamin supplements. Exercise can better the physical and emotional health. The best things you can do after the treatment is to practice healthy eating habits. Some simple changes can bring long term benefits.

Gastric Cancer FAQ's

• Q. What is gastric cancer?
  Gastric cancer, also called stomach cancer, is the name for cancer that begins in the stomach, generally the stomach lining. This type of cancer can eventually spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver, pancreas, colon, lungs and ovaries.
•  Q. What are the risk factors for gastric cancer?
  Risk factors are conditions that increase a person’s chance of getting a type of cancer. Soem risk factors for stomach cancer:
  Aging – There is a sharp increase in stomach cancer after 50.
  Being male – Stomach cancer is about two times more common in men.
  Diet – Foods that are smoked, salted fish and meat, pickled vegetables and food that are at the same time high in starch and low in fiber have been identified as possible risk factors.
  Previous stomach surgery – After surgery, more nitrite-producing bacteria are present in the stomach.
  Family history of stomach cancer – Several close blood relatives who have or had stomach cancer increases a person’s risk.
  Helicobacter Pylori infection – An infection that, if long-term, can lead to chronic atrophic gastritis. This is inflammation of the stomach’s inner layer and can eventually cause cancer.
• Q. What are the symptoms for gastric cancer (stomach cancer)?
  These are some probable symptoms of stomach cancer:
  Indigestion or a burning sensation (heartburn)
  Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
  Nausea and vomiting
  Diarrhea or constipation
  Bloating of the stomach after meals
  Loss of appetite
  Weakness and fatigue
  Bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool)
  Note: However, many of these symptoms are more often caused by other medical conditions. It is necessary to visit a physician to find out the real reasons for these symptoms.
• Q. How will my doctor know if I have gastric cancer?
  To diagnose gastric cancer, a physician will conduct a complete medical history, a physical examination and laboratory studies that may include a fecal occult blood test or a complete blood count (CBC). A doctor may perform a CBC to determine if a patient has anemia, which is a risk factor for stomach cancer. A physician may also use the following procedures to detect stomach cancer: Upper endoscopy and Barium upper GI radiographs.
• Q. What are the treatments?
  Three kinds of treatment are used to treat stomach cancer:
  Surgery – taking out the cancer in an operation
  Radiation therapy – using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells
  Chemotherapy – using drugs to kill cancer cells
• Q. What are the side effects of treatment?
  Dumping syndrome causing cramps, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness shortly after eating, bleeding from the surgery, blood clots, damage to the nearby organs, heartburn and abdominal pain.
• Q. When should I call my doctor?
  Call your doctor if you have the following symptoms:
  • Fever over 101° F after the surgery
  • Rising pain or swelling
  • Redness or tenderness
  • Numbness