Can stomach cancer be cured?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 03, 2024
00:00
00:00

Whether gastric cancer can be cured depends greatly on the stage at which it is discovered. Clinically, if there is no recurrence or metastasis within five years, it is considered cured. The treatment of gastric cancer is primarily surgical. Therefore, for early-stage gastric cancer patients, if a surgeon assesses that curative surgery is feasible, it is recommended to perform a radical surgical resection. For stage I gastric cancer patients, the five-year survival rate after surgical treatment can generally reach over 90%, which is quite effective. However, for those with advanced gastric cancer, it is generally incurable. Treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or optimal symptomatic supportive care, aim to alleviate the patient's suffering and extend their life, but generally cannot cure advanced gastric cancer.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
58sec home-news-image

How is gastric cancer treated?

The treatment methods for gastric cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, as well as broad-spectrum targeted therapies against angiogenesis, such as apatinib. Immunotherapy is also an option. However, the specific treatment plan is based on a comprehensive consideration of various factors, including the stage of the cancer and the general condition of the patient. The principle is that for early-stage gastric cancer patients, if the surgeon assesses that surgery is feasible, then radical surgical treatment is primarily used. For advanced-stage patients who are in generally good condition, chemotherapy is the main treatment, combined with a consideration of whether to undergo radiotherapy. For those in very advanced stages, who may not be in good health or those who have had chemotherapy with poor results, anti-angiogenic drugs like apatinib can be chosen as a subsequent treatment.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
56sec home-news-image

Is gastric cancer contagious?

Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor occurring in the epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa. It is non-contagious. Currently, the incidence of gastric cancer is relatively high, primarily due to Helicobacter pylori infection, adverse environmental factors, and dietary irritants. Genetic factors also play a significant role, with 10% of gastric cancer patients having a family history. Those with a family history of gastric cancer have an incidence rate that is 2 to 3 times higher than the general population. Additionally, precancerous lesions can also induce gastric cancer, such as intestinal metaplasia, gastric polyps, residual gastritis, and gastric ulcers. Typical symptoms include indigestion, anemia, lack of appetite, aversion to food, and fatigue. Currently, gastroscopy combined with mucosal biopsy is the most reliable diagnostic method.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
39sec home-news-image

early symptoms of gastric cancer

The early symptoms of gastric cancer are similar to those of some gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. They don't have very specific clinical manifestations. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, and acid reflux-like symptoms, which are early symptoms in patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, when such symptoms appear, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly and undergo a thorough gastroscopy.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
36sec home-news-image

What can someone with stomach cancer eat?

For the diet of stomach cancer patients, they should focus on eating easily digestible foods and maintain a balanced diet with frequent small meals. They can eat meat, eggs, vegetables, and fruits. However, they should avoid cancer-causing foods such as pickled products and barbecued foods, as well as overly greasy or hard-to-digest foods. There are no specific dietary prohibitions. As long as the patient has a good appetite and can tolerate food, they can eat many types of food.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 12sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of gastric cancer?

The symptoms of gastric cancer patients are generally common gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, and discomfort and bloating in the upper abdomen, especially aggravated after eating. As the condition progresses, symptoms may include vomiting blood or black stools. When the cancer invades surrounding organs, clinical symptoms such as abdominal effusion, abdominal distension, and pain may occur. If the tumor is located near the pylorus and causes pyloric obstruction, symptoms of pyloric obstruction will appear, such as gastric retention, acid reflux, and vomiting of overnight food. Additionally, if the tumor bleeds, it may cause severe vomiting of blood. Therefore, different stages of the disease present different symptoms. If gastric cancer progresses to the late stage with metastasis to distant organs, clinical manifestations corresponding to the sites of metastasis will also appear.