The Benefits of Surgery for Treating Stomach Cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly called stomach cancer, is a difficult diagnosis that necessitates an all-encompassing treatment strategy. Surgery is one of the best treatment options available if the stomach cancer is still in its early stages. It is required for eliminating malignant tissues, lessening the symptoms that have manifested, and increasing the chances of survival from cancer. This blog discusses the advantages of surgery for stomach cancer along with the different kinds of surgical procedures that may be performed. It also discusses why surgery is regarded as a vital need for treating stomach cancer.
Understanding Surgery as a Treatment Option for Stomach Cancer
In the initial stages of stomach cancer, the tumor cells are mostly restricted and localized and do not progress to other organs. This stage is prior to metastasis. Under such early stages, surgery is advised as the main treatment protocol. Cancer cells need to be stopped from spreading and surgery aims to remove malignant tissues. In certain situations, adjacent lymph nodes are also removed to arrest the spread. In all probabilities, surgical strategy might change based on the tumor’s location and stage.
Types of Surgeries for Stomach Cancer
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Endoscopic Resection
Endoscopic resection is a procedure that is initially used for stomach cancers that are still in their early stages. This procedure is a minimally invasive technique which uses the endoscope itself to remove the malignant tissues without making any large incisions. Patients with cancer in the stomach lining alone are the beneficiaries in this procedure.
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Partial Gastrectomy
A partial gastrectomy is a surgical procedure performed when cancer is restricted to a particular area of the stomach. In this procedure the damaged section of the stomach is removed surgically. This is done to preserve as much of the stomach as possible.
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Total Gastrectomy
A complete gastrectomy or the removal of the stomach is necessary if the cancer has progressed completely and has affected the whole stomach. In such cases, the digestive function needs to be preserved without the presence of the stomach. This is done by joining the esophagus straight with the small intestine surgically.
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Palliative Surgery
When the stomach cancer has progressed to advanced stages, Palliative surgery is employed. This procedure is done to alleviate such symptoms like extreme discomfort, bleeding, or blockage. This surgery greatly enhances the patient’s quality of life. It should be noted that this surgery does not cure cancer.
Benefits of Surgery for Stomach Cancer
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Effective Cancer Removal
The best method for physically removing stomach cancer is no doubt surgery. It increases the chance of long-term survival by eliminating cancer cells totally when performed early.
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Prevents Cancer Spread
Surgery lowers the chance of cancer spreading to other areas of the body. This is achieved by removing the tumor-impacted lymph nodes and the surrounding tissues.
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Improves Digestive Function
Sometimes the growing tumor cells could have caused symptoms like obstructions or trouble swallowing. Hence surgical removal of these cancer growth can at times help people consume and digest food more efficiently.
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Enhances Quality of Life
If the cancer has advanced to a stage, referred to as terminal stage, Palliative surgery can come in handy. This surgery improves the quality of life while the patients are undergoing cancer treatment. In this stage, the cancer cannot be cured and hence the main aim is to reduce the pain and suffering of the patient.
Things to Consider Before Surgery
It is true that surgery for stomach cancer has many advantages. But it needs to be kept in mind that not all patients are suitable to undergo surgery. It also needs to be understood that surgery may or may not be the best course of action. It depends on a number of factors like the location of the tumor, general health, and the stage in which the cancer is. More often, a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals that includes surgeons and physicians evaluate each patient separately and determine the course of treatment.
Surgery is still considered one of the best ways to treat stomach cancer. It provides major advantages like incrementing the quality of life, symptom alleviation, and increasing the survival rate. Although surgical treatment is helpful when cancer is still in its early stages, other improvements in surgical procedures have allowed improved results in cases where the stomach cancer is challenging. Check with a skilled cancer surgeon to discuss surgery options. More often the cancer specialist themselves will suggest the correct course of treatment option if you or your loved one has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.