Stomach cancer is a severe oncological disease that does not respond well to treatment. German doctors, however, successfully cope even with this pathology, and many patients achieve full recovery. Modern treatment for stage 4 stomach cancer allows doctors to curb this disease for many years.
Early-stage stomach cancer treatment
Early-stage stomach cancer does not cause any symptoms, but it can be detected by endoscopy, which is performed for screening or when diagnosing other diseases (gastric ulcers, bleeding, gastritis, etc.).
At an early stage, the disease can be cured with minimally traumatic techniques with complete preservation of the stomach and without radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Doctors perform an endoscopic dissection: they insert instruments through the mouth and remove part of the stomach lining along with the tumor. The wound heals with the formation of a scar. Relapses in such a situation rarely develop.
Stage 2 and 3 stomach cancer treatment
Whenever possible, doctors seek to treat stomach cancer with surgery, as this is the only option that gives a chance to get rid of the disease completely.
Surgery options can be as follows:
- Stomach resection surgery involves the removal of part of the organ
- Total gastrectomy involves complete removal of the stomach
When performing stomach resection surgery, doctors remove most of the stomach, leaving a small fragment of it near the esophagus or duodenum (depending on where the tumor is located). Preservation of even a small part of the organ, however, significantly improves the patient's quality of life. Besides, it will stretch over time, and the stomach will become more capacious.
Total gastrectomy is considered the standard operation for stomach cancer treatment. Doctors perform it more often. Whether the stomach is removed partially or completely, doctors will also perform a lymph node dissection to determine the exact stage of the cancer, plan additional treatment, and reduce the risk of a recurrence.
Most patients who have had surgery also receive chemotherapy after the intervention.
Stage 4 stomach cancer treatment
Stage 4 stomach cancer cannot be cured, but can be controlled for a long time.
When the tumor spreads through the peritoneum, cytoreductive surgery is performed. This is an operation to remove the stomach, lymph nodes, and all visible malignant lesions in the abdominal cavity. Immediately after the completion of the intervention, doctors at the best clinics in Germany perform the HIPEC procedure (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy). Doctors rinse the abdominal cavity with a heated solution of chemotherapy drugs to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
At stage 4, pharmacotherapy helps control cancer. Healthcare professionals in Germany use not only conventional cytostatic chemotherapy but also targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Targeted therapy often includes the use of drugs that target HER2. If these drugs do not work, then there is a fallback, namely an antibody-drug conjugate. This is a combination of a monoclonal antibody to the HER2 protein and a chemotherapy drug. Antibodies deliver drugs directly to cancer cells, which greatly increases the effectiveness of treatment. Other drugs that doctors may prescribe for advanced stomach cancer include:
- VEGF inhibitors
- TRK inhibitors
- PD-1 inhibitors (used as immunotherapy and work by enhancing antitumor immunity)
You are welcome to visit the Booking Health website to undergo your stomach cancer diagnostics and treatment in Germany at favorable prices. On our website, you can find the cost of medical services and choose a clinic, as well as make your treatment appointment on your preferred dates. The specialists from the Booking Health company will help you choose the most suitable Cancer Center and organize your trip.