Gastric cancer will kill 10,570 americans and lead to 21,000 new cancer cases in the United States in 2010, according to the National Cancer Institute. Gastric cancer develops from genetic mutations in the tissue that make up the lining of the stomach. In cases of advanced gastric cancer, tumor growth spreads through the stomach wall and into neighboring organs, as well as distant organs around the body. Patients with advanced gastric cancer may receive a number of treatments to help control their disease.
Gastrectomy
One possible treatment for advanced gastric cancer growth is a gastrectomy, a surgical removal of the diseased stomach tissue. Depending on the extent of cancer spread, this may involve removing all or almost all of the stomach. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that during the procedure, doctors make an incision to access the stomach, and cut away cancerous tissue in the stomach wall. Any remaining stomach tissue is stitched together and connected to the small intestine, restoring the digestive tract.
After surgery, the patient requires suction treatment to keep the stomach empty, since the presence of stomach acids can slow healing after surgery and prove painful. Stomach cancer patients who undergo a gastrectomy may require some lifestyle changes, such as diet changes, for a short while after surgery.
Endoluminal Laser Therapy
Some patients with advanced gastric carcinoma undergo endoluminal laser therapy. Gastric cancer growth can spread throughout the digestive tract, leading to the development of tumors that can obstruct the movement of food through the digestive tract. Endoluminal laser therapy uses a laser that acts as a knife to cut away cancer growth blocking the stomach, reports the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. By relieving stomach blockages, gastric cancer patients may suffer less pain and have a higher quality of life.
Palliative Therapy
In its most advanced stages, gastric cancer may prove difficulty to handle with curative treatments. In these cases, gastric cancer patients often receive palliative therapy to increase their quality of life. Palliative therapy seeks to ease pain due to cancer growth, but does not seek to induce cancer remission. The National Cancer Institute indicates that patients with advanced gastric cancer may receive palliative chemotherapy, radiation or surgery to ease pain and digestive tract blockages. Doctors evaluate the need for palliative therapy on a case by case basis, to help ensure the relative comfort of patients as their cancer progresses.
