Treatment of gastric cancer is possible only after the diagnosis is clarified. Modern methods are quite effective if you can notice the disease at an early stage, so it is important to know its symptoms. Turning to the doctor, as soon as they began to disturb suspicious symptoms, a person significantly increases his chances of a better development scenario.
general information
Before you understand what should be the treatment of cancer of the stomach, you should consider what this disease is. The term is used to denote such an oncological pathology when a malignant neoplasm appears in the human body. The starting material for its development is the cells that form the gastric epithelium.
Statistics clearly demonstrate that treatment of stomach cancer is most often required for people forty years of age or older, although in recent years cases of the development of the disease at a young age have become more frequent. Rarely is a pathology diagnosed in people under the age of thirty.
At present, gastric cancer among other oncological diseases in terms of frequency of occurrence and risks of death is firmly in second place, second only to malignant neoplasms in the lungs.
Description of the disease
To be less likely to encounter the need for urgent treatment of gastric cancer, you need to imagine what the essence of the disease is and what can provoke it. Pathology is common, therefore, any modern person should have a general idea about it. Cancer can develop in any part of the stomach, and metastases spread throughout the body. A distinctive feature is the high speed of this process. Most often, secondary malignant neoplasms are detected in the lungs and liver.
The treatment of stomach cancer started too late, ignoring the symptoms of the disease, untimely seeking medical help and neglecting classic, proven approaches are part of the factors that can lead to fatal cancer of the stomach. On average, the number of victims of this disease per year is estimated at 800 thousand people worldwide.
More often, treatment for stomach cancer is required for men than for women. Up to 80% of cases are accompanied by metastases, that is, atypical cells spread throughout the body, affecting new organs. Stages with metastases make it possible to talk about both primary and secondary cancer. From statistics it is known that often patients turn to the doctor at the fourth step of the disease, which is characterized by metastases and severe symptoms of primary cancer. Unfortunately, modern medicine does not yet have such means that could provide the patient with good chances for a long life. If you suspect a pathology, you do not need to drag it until it comes to the stage with metastases - you should sign up for an examination as soon as possible.
From the information received by doctors over many years of attempts to treat stomach cancer (successful, as the numbers show, is far from always), it follows that metastases spread with the flow of lymph and blood. In addition, a malignant neoplasm can grow in tissues and organs close to the stomach. Depending on the characteristics of the distribution, it is customary to talk about metastases:
- hematogenous;
- lymphogenous;
- implantation.
Present and future of the patient
Average survival rates vary significantly. The best predictions are for those who suspected a problem on time and went to the clinic for a diagnosis of gastric cancer. Treatment, when started in a timely manner, provides 65% of patients with six-month survival. For a serious stage, this parameter is estimated at no more than 15%, and some experts voiced an even more tragic figure - only five percent of patients can expect six months of life after the diagnosis is formulated.
Many patients initially come to the clinic with complaints, on the basis of which the lay person does not have suspicions of oncology. More often come complaining about:
- dyspepsia;
- digestion soreness;
- food processing problems;
- violation of the stool.
By finding out the cause of the symptoms, by conducting a comprehensive examination, doctors may find that treatment for stomach cancer is already required. The first symptoms of the disease are quite blurry, so it is difficult to suspect something was wrong when the disease is just beginning.
Risk groups and varieties
Most often, oncological processes in the stomach are detected in men older than forty years of age, much less often pathology develops in thirty-year-olds, and in extremely rare cases it is recorded in people of an even younger age.
Nine out of ten tumors found in the stomach, according to medical statistics, are malignant. The predominant percentage of such neoplasms is carcinomas. In men, most often the disease is determined at 50-75 years.
It is quite difficult to start timely treatment of stomach cancer: the symptoms are extremely diverse, depending not only on the personality of the patient, but also on his place of residence, the specifics of the surrounding space. Based on the information collected, doctors suggest that the development of cancer is provoked by several groups of factors:
- climate;
- geographical area;
- food habits;
- features of life.
Other specific aspects inherent in human everyday life can play a role.
Where did the trouble come from?
If you are well versed in the causes of the disease, you can thereby preserve your health to some extent, which means that stomach cancer treatment will be less likely. The reviews of doctors, however, are disappointing: experts say that in most cases it is not possible to determine exactly which factor provoked the malignant process. It is believed that oncology develops with the combined influence of several aspects. Presumably, their role is played by:
- Helicobacter pylori infection;
- gastric polyps;
- chronic pathologies that adversely affect the gastric mucosa;
- genetic predisposition.
And if more?
Helicobacter pylori is a microscopic form of life that provokes gastritis, gastric ulcer. As specific studies have shown, in people who need treatment for gastric cancer (all stages), the concentration of this bacterium in the digestive system is many times higher than in healthy people.
Polyps are called such growths on the gastric mucosa, which in themselves are benign, but can cause oncology. More often develop if a person is sick with chronic gastric pathologies. A particular risk is associated with atrophic gastritis - the mucosa becomes thinner, juice is generated in small volumes. If gastric polyps appear, the risk of developing a malignant process in the neoplasm increases. Especially dangerous is the situation when the dimensions of the polyp are 2 cm or more, and the structure contains elements that can produce mucus. The risk of cancer increases significantly if there are several polyps.
As can be seen from medical reviews, treatment of gastric cancer is often required for people whose close relatives were already cancer patients, including those suffering from pathologies of the digestive system. The likelihood of a malignant neoplasm increases significantly.
No less important is everyday life. So, with a much greater degree of probability, treatment of metastases of gastric cancer is required if a person prefers to eat:
- canned food;
- sharp;
- oily;
- roast.
Any components with a pronounced chemical activity, once in the stomach, harm the mucosa, violate the natural defense, which means that potentially dangerous compounds can penetrate the structure of the organ. Since in everyday life people are found (including in food) with an abundance of carcinogens, the likelihood of a cancer process is quite high. The cell into which the carcinogen penetrated does not always become the cause of the disease - it can be destroyed by the body’s defenses, but the risk of degeneration is very high.
Factors and habits
It is known that surgery is rarely required to treat stomach cancer for people who eat vegetables and fruits. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and irreplaceable microscopic elements helps to reduce the likelihood of a negative process. Of course, only a reasonable diet can not guarantee the absence of oncology, but significantly reduces its likelihood.
But to worsen their own forecasts can a smoker and abusing alcohol. Both of these factors can be the cause of malignant neoplasms in various tissues of the body, and the fact of their influence has been established for a long time.
Higher risks of cancer in individuals suffering from hormonal imbalance. Statistics show that the disease is more often observed in people with excess weight, background diseases. Among the predisposing ones are primarily pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and reproductive system, but other health disorders can also provoke malignant processes.
Since the best therapy is the prevention of the disease, the best way to treat stomach cancer is to minimize the factors that can provoke it. It is known that often oncology is observed against the background of an ulcer, therefore it is important to start the fight against this disease in a timely manner. Rebirth usually lasts for many years, because the patient has time to find an approach and eliminate the ulcer before it leads to disastrous consequences.
There are also known cases when the cancer developed independently, without background health problems. Most often, the disease manifests itself in symptoms that are very similar to an ulcer. To make an accurate diagnosis, you should see a doctor. According to the results of the study, the doctor will recommend which effective treatment to choose: stomach cancer or ulcers.
Types and Categories
For each case, each group, each stage, the treatment of gastric cancer has its own specific features. In order to select the most effective program, it is important to examine the patient’s condition and precisely determine all the individual nuances of the case.
Most often, carcinoma occurs. A tumor is formed from the gastric mucosa. The main cells are capable of producing mucus structures.
The so-called solid cancer is known. This form is not widespread, its distinguishing feature is the basis for the development of the process. The neoplasm appears from dense tissues.
Cricoid-cell - this type of oncology, which is formed from cells, with a large increase in the shape of the rings recognized. Such a disease usually develops very quickly, before other forms it gives metastases.
Leiomyosarcoma is a cancer that forms on the basis of muscle gastric fibers.
Lymphoma appears in the lymph cells.
Depending on the localization, all cases are divided into the following categories:
- cardiac cancer (at the point where the stomach passes into the esophagus);
- body cancer (in the middle part);
- small curvature (organ wall on the right);
- pyloric (at the point of transition of the stomach into the intestine).
Another classification involves the division of all cases into two groups:
The first is a situation where a tumor grows inside the wall of the stomach. The disease manifests itself in symptoms similar to an ulcer. The second category is the spread of tumors into the gastric lumen. There is a variant of the polypoid process, mushroom, nodular.
Stages of the disease
It is no secret that the complexity (in degrees) of treatment of gastric cancer varies greatly, it all depends on at what stage the malignant process was detected. The best prognosis for detecting a disease at the zero stage, but the likelihood of this is quite small. This period of the development of the disease is characterized by atypical cells based on the inner surface of the stomach. Distribution in depth has not yet occurred.
The next step is the first stage. Predictions for patients: five-year survival is characteristic of eight individuals from each of ten patients. The stage is usually divided into two subgroups: A and B. A is a code that indicates the absence of the spread of atypical cells deep into the organ. B is a code indicating that the tumor spreads to the lymph nodes or muscle fibers.
In the second stage there are also two subgroups. The stage is estimated at 56% survival over a five-year period. 2A: the neoplasm does not extend deep into the organ, but it affects the nearby lymph nodes (up to six locations). Class 2A also includes a case where atypical cells are detected in the muscle layer and not more than two nodes of the lymphatic system located near the neoplasm. If the lymphatic system is absolutely clean, even a case when all layers of the stomach wall are affected by atypical cells is referred to group 2A.
2B is also a fairly extensive category, includes several scenarios:
- malignant processes are localized on the inner surface of the stomach, atypical cells are found in seven or more lymph nodes;
- a tumor affects muscle fibers, no more than two lymph nodes;
- the lymph nodes are clean, but the process spreads through the wall of the stomach to external (relative to the organ) structures.
Disease progression
The third stage is divided into three categories: A, B, C. Five-year survival is estimated at 15-40%. 3A is diagnosed if the tumor affects muscle gastric fibers, seven or more lymph nodes. An alternative is up to two lymph nodes and damage to all gastric layers. 3B is set if the neoplasm sprouts into the outer wall of the stomach and spreads to 7 lymph nodes and a larger number. An alternative is the defeat of up to two nodes and all layers of the tissues of the stomach, as well as those located nearby. 3C is a variant of the disease when atypical cells are detected outside the wall of the stomach and in seven or more lymph nodes or sprouted into tissues surrounding the organ and spread to the lymph nodes (up to six).
The most difficult treatment for stage 4 gastric cancer. This option is diagnosed when the pathology has spread to the lymphatic system, atypical cells with a fluid flow have spread throughout the body, and have begun to grow in other organs and tissues. The treatment of stage 4 gastric cancer is the fight against metastasis, accompanied by the treatment of the underlying problem. The forecasts are disappointing: the five-year survival rate is less than 5%. However, you should not give up: the treatment of stage 4 stomach cancer with metastases is possible, and no one can predict the result by 100%.
What to do?
The most effective stomach cancer treatments are available to patients in modern clinics with high-precision equipment and the latest medicines. The course program is as follows:
- radical surgery;
- chemotherapy;
- irradiation.
It is impossible to cure the disease on your own. Even reliable and considered the most effective folk remedies for treating gastric cancer will not show a pronounced result, although you can resort to them in consultation with the doctor as an aid to improve the general condition.
Resection allows you to stop the severe symptoms of the disease and increase the life of the patient, improve the patient's condition in general. The choice of a method for treating gastric cancer is up to the doctor - sometimes a decision is made to remove a part of the organ, sometimes a complete stomach removal is indicated.
Radio and chemotherapy are auxiliary methods that can eliminate metastases if a malignant process has spread outside the stomach. Diagnosis, choice of treatment program is the responsibility of the gastroenterologist, oncologist, and surgeon.
Features and Therapy
If it was possible to detect a malignant neoplasm at the zero or first stage, a detailed examination of the patient confirmed the absence of metastases, the mucous membrane was affected, but the layers under it had not yet become a localization area for atypical cells, a certain percentage of the gastric wall, lymph nodes nearby and a small amount of tissue could be removed. This option is the most positive, the forecasts are the best, and rehabilitation is relatively simple and shorter than in other cases.
After the intervention, the volume of the stomach will become less. If complete organ removal is indicated, the esophagus is artificially connected to the intestine. In the future, those who have undergone such an operation will be able to eat only fractionally, in small portions.
Irradiation is necessary to slow the growth of the neoplasm, to slightly reduce the tumor. Radiation therapy is indicated before surgery to reduce the volumes necessary for removal, as well as after it, in order to reduce the risk of relapse.
Chemotherapy - the appointment of a patient with a complex of medications to inhibit vital activity and destroy the degenerated cellular structures. After surgery, such a course is prescribed to prevent the development of atypical cells if they remain in the body, which means to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
As a rule, all methods are combined to give the best result.
Course Features
During the treatment of stomach cancer, it is especially important to eat fully, balanced, correctly. The body, forced to fight cancer, needs protein structures, trace elements and vitamin complexes, and the specificity of the disease is such that the gastrointestinal tract is depressed. It is important to control the calorie intake and the amount of food absorbed, to give preference to the most healthy dishes.
There are cases when, against the background of stomach cancer, mental oppression states developed. Patients can become depressed, some become lethargic, refuse to eat. This forces the introduction of nutrients by infusion into a vein.
Disease and treatment: side effects
Oncological diseases are poorly tolerated by humans, complications greatly worsen the patient's condition. In addition, methods of combating malignant tumors available to modern doctors are also difficult to tolerate by people. Quite often, cancer is accompanied by anemia due to bleeding due to damage to the vascular walls. If the neoplasm is large, processes of necrosis are possible, which means the ingress of toxins into the body, showing a pronounced toxic effect. Atypical cells actively consume energy, and the patient loses his appetite, so the disease is often accompanied by dystrophy.
Prolonged exposure can cause burns, dermatitis, radiation sickness. Chemotherapy provokes:
- weakness;
- violation of the stool;
- nausea, vomiting
- hair loss;
- dry skin;
- eczema
- violation of the reproductive organs;
- fragility, deformation of nails;
- dermatitis.
Quite often, against the background of anticancer treatment, patients are forced to fight infection of the body, since the immune system is suppressed both by the disease and the methods available to combat the disease. Against the background of oncology, infection is difficult and can be the cause of serious complications. The most difficult course is transferred to persons who need treatment for stage 4 gastric cancer with metastases.
Operation: some features
Stomach resection is the most reliable of the methods available to modern man, but you can not always resort to it. If the tumor is large, the process has gone far, operating is simply impossible. Radical intervention is prohibited if atypical cells have spread to other organs, since it does not seem realistic to remove all affected areas, while maintaining the body's ability to function.
If it was possible to identify the disease at the very beginning, perhaps only the operation will already be enough, you will not have to endure the radiation and chemotherapy. However, in practice such cases are quite rare, since it is extremely problematic to detect cancer at the zero stage and even the first.
Treatment with folk remedies
Cancer of the stomach cannot be cured at home. Improving the patient's condition is possible when taking anticancer drugs, and strictly under the supervision of a doctor, but no “magic pills” or familiar products can stop the growth of atypical structures. And yet, do not neglect the recipes of folk healers: although treatment of stomach cancer with folk methods is impossible, but to strengthen immunity they are excellent, which means they increase the body's ability to cope with trouble.
When undergoing treatment in the clinic, on the advice of a doctor, you can use fortifying formulations, vitamins, and immune-enhancing agents. Oncology is always a weakened immunity, therefore immunomodulators are required. They can be taken at home, not only while in the clinic, but by prior agreement with the doctor, otherwise you can harm yourself.
You should be extremely careful about reviews of the treatment of cancer of the stomach with folk remedies a la warming. Doctors pay attention: thermal exposure is contraindicated, since it can stimulate the active growth of the neoplasm. For the same reason, physiotherapy is prohibited.
Unfortunately, there is no such effective treatment of gastric cancer with folk remedies that would avoid surgery. Neglecting the recommendations of the doctor, abandoning the approaches of classical medicine in favor of the prescriptions of the healers, the patient thereby spends his own time, worsening the prognosis, and without it is far from rosy in oncology. To improve your own chances for the future, you should start the course of treatment prescribed by your doctor as soon as possible. If an operation is indicated, you need to go through the procedure. If in addition radiation and medications are recommended, you can not pull.
Oncology and nutrition
A prerequisite of the therapeutic course for tumors in the stomach is a diet. You will have to adhere to a special nutrition program from the moment the diagnosis is formulated until the end of the rehabilitation period. Before the operation, it is necessary to ensure a high content of protein and vitamins in the diet. Preference is given to products that are not able to provoke an allergic reaction.
It is necessary to remember the importance of protein structures for the human body - these components are used by tissues and organs as a "building" material. Eating rationally, ensuring a constant influx of protein, you can give the body the necessary components for the rapid healing of wounds, including those obtained during surgery.
Protein deficiency in the body leads to a slowdown in healing, failure of anastomoses. If it is not possible to increase the concentration of protein structures in the body through nutrition, intravenous infusions of amino acid solutions are indicated. They resort to them quite often, since the specificity of the oncological disease is such that the digestibility of the protein obtained from food is quite low.
Nutrition Program Features
Be sure to adhere to the nutritional program prescribed by the doctor after the operation. If the lesion is absolute, subtotal, a gastrectomy is performed, the doctors during the operation form a reservoir for food from the auxiliary tissues of the body. This dictates the rules of nutrition: you have to consume small amounts of products, balancing the diet, taking into account all the necessary components:
- proteins;
- fatty structures;
- vitamin complexes;
- mineral compounds;
- carbohydrates.
In the first day after the operation, the patient is contraindicated to eat in order to avoid additional stomach injuries. To maintain the strength of the body, an intravenous infusion of nutrient compounds is prescribed. Self-feeding is usually allowed on the third or fourth day after the intervention. At first, the food should be liquid, semi-liquid: low-fat meat broths, special mixtures. Gradually, mashed potatoes, liquid cereals are introduced into the diet.
After discharge from the surgical department, the doctor tells the patient what rules to eat at home in order to restore the body quickly and successfully. To the main course of products, auxiliary components are prescribed. It is necessary to eat fractionally, per day - up to seven times. You have to give up rough food and products that are difficult to digest. Prohibited substances that can irritate the digestive tract. Exclude:
- dairy products;
- sour;
- sharp;
- alcohol
- carbonated.
The ban is imposed on hot dishes.
After the operation and the rehabilitation period, the person is registered and regularly referred for esophagogastroduodenoscopy.