Treatment in stages

Treatment for stomach cancer will depend on the stage of the disease, the part of the stomach where the cancer is located, and the patient's overall health.

Gastric Cancer - Stage 0

Treatment may be any of the following:

  1. Surgery to remove part of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy).
  2. Surgery to remove the entire stomach and part of the surrounding tissues (total gastrectomy). Lymph nodes around the stomach may also be removed during surgery (lymph node dissection).

Gastric Cancer - Stage I

Treatment may be any of the following:

  1. Surgery to remove part of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy) with removal of associated lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy)
  2. Surgery to remove the entire stomach and part of the surrounding tissues (total gastrectomy). Nearby lymph nodes may be removed (lymphadenectomy).

Gastric Cancer - Stage II

Treatment may be any of the following:

  1. Surgery to remove part of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy).
  2. Surgery to remove the entire stomach and some of the tissue around it (total gastrectomy).
  3. A clinical trial of surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Lymph nodes around the stomach may also be removed (lymph node dissection).

Gastric Cancer - Stage III

Treatment may be any of the following:

  1. Surgery to remove the entire stomach and some of the tissue around it (total gastrectomy). Lymph nodes may also be removed.
  2. A clinical trial of surgery followed by adjuvant radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both.
  3. A clinical trial of chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy.

Gastric Cancer - Stage IV

Treatment may be any of the following:

  1. Surgery to relieve symptoms, reduce bleeding, or to remove a tumor that is blocking the stomach.
  2. Chemotherapy to relieve symptoms.