Abdominal, or stomach, cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells grow and spread within the abdomen. Signs and symptoms may include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, abdominal bloating and difficulty swallowing. The treatment for abdominal cancer depends on the severity of the disease as well as the patient's age and overall health.
Surgery
A partial, or subtotal, gastrectomy is a procedure used when the cancer is located at the lower part of the stomach. According to the National Cancer Institute, the surgeon removes the lower part of the stomach with the cancer and attaches the remaining part of the stomach to the intestine. In more severe cases where the cancer is located in the upper portion of the stomach, the entire stomach may need to be removed in a procedure called a total gastrectomy. The surgeon removes the entire stomach, nearby lymph nodes, parts of the esophagus and small intestine, and other tissues near the tumor, and connects the esophagus directly to the small intestine.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of strong medications to kill cancer cells and keep them from spreading. It may be given prior to or following surgery. Chemotherapy can either be given intravenously or in the form of an oral pill. In some cases, chemotherapy can be given locally in the affected area, what's called regional chemotherapy. Side effects of chemotherapy include fatigue, mouth sores, nausea and vomiting, anemia and an increased susceptibility for infection.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-beam X-rays to kill cancer cells. According to the Mayo Clinic, radiation therapy--called neoadjuvant radiation--can be used before surgery to shrink a stomach tumor so it's more easily removed, or can also be used after surgery--called adjuvant radiation--to kill any cancer cells that might remain around the stomach. Radiation therapy may be given in conjunction with surgery and chemotherapy.
