13 December 2019
Stomach cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. In 2018, 1 million people died with the mentioned disease. Despite the fact that stomach cancer is fatal, some patients manage to defeat this illness forever. Timely detection and proper treatment are the keys to recovery. In this article, will be discussed what exactly stomach cancer is and how it is treated abroad.
Stomach cancer is a disease during which a tumor forms in the gastric mucosa. In case of stomach cancer, early diagnosis is quite difficult, since the patient may not experience any symptoms. Stomach cancer is easily confused with other diseases that affect the mucous membrane, for example, with stomach (peptic) ulcer. Patients with a stomach ulcer may ignore the symptoms, as they are used to persistent abdominal pain.
Distinguishing a stomach ulcer from stomach cancer is not easy, but possible. A patient suffering from stomach cancer experiences constant pain, including during night hours. Patients’ hemoglobin decreases and he cannot eat certain types of foods. The patient vomits often and the vomit is bloody.
The early symptoms of gastric cancer are tiredness and sudden weight loss. Signs that characterize exactly this type of cancer include:
Thus, any chronic or periodic abdominal discomfort may indicate gastric cancer. Dull and lingering pain, difficulty swallowing, vomiting of undigested food and especially, liquid, dark stools is an occasion to undergo an examination.
As in cases of other types of cancer, the exact cause of the appearance of a malignant tumor in the stomach is unknown. There are diseases that negatively affect the gastric mucosa, which under certain circumstances can develop into cancer. Mentioned diseases include:
Depending on the tumor structure, several types of stomach cancer are distinguished:
Stomach cancer is divided into intestinal and diffuse types. Intestinal cancer is similar to colon cancer, from where it got its name. The causes of intestinal cancer are the Helicobacter pylori bacteria and malnutrition.
The diffuse type of stomach cancer is characterized by the appearance of several lesions at once. The disease is aggressive in nature and quickly affects the human body. A diffuse type of cancer may be hereditary.
The formation and growth of the tumor have several stages. That is why stages of the disease are distinguished.
A quality diagnosis of stomach cancer is extremely important - the sooner the doctors discover the tumor, the higher is the likelihood that the patient will get rid of the disease. The main methods for diagnosis of gastric cancer abroad are:
The Caucasus Medical Center offers its patients laboratory and instrumental diagnosis of stomach cancer and other types of cancers. The center is located in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi, and is a regional leader in healthcare. The hospital is equipped with the latest-generation equipment that allows detecting cancer in the early stages of development. Doctors of the center have working experience abroad; they will diagnose and select the right treatment.
There are several methods of treating stomach cancer. The effectiveness of the method depends at what stage the tumor was detected, and its location as well.
Doctors of the Caucasus Medical Center treat gastric cancer with chemotherapy and hormone therapy and perform surgery to remove tumors. Patients of the center are able to receive round-the-clock inpatient care, as well as support at all stages of treatment.
Surgery is a radical method for treatment of stomach cancer. The affected stomach or its corresponding parts with lymph nodes in which metastases are located are removed surgically.
The surgery is very effective in the initial stages of the disease - 90% of patients live five or more years after the removal of the tumor. However, surgery is not possible if the tumor has grown too deep. In this case, doctors resort to alternative methods of treatment.
The Caucasus Medical Center carries out complex and unique outpatient and inpatient surgeries. A doctor that has a 16-year working experience in the clinic of Germany, Aida Gozalova, is a head of the oncohematology department.
The radiation therapy method, as a rule, is used in combination with other methods of treatment, since exposure to radiation may affect not only the stomach, but also other organs, for example, the heart. That is why radiation therapy is often used during surgery, which allows sending a particle beam directly to the stomach.
The use of radiation therapy is complicated by the fact that stomach cancer significantly limits the food ration of patients. After irradiation, patient's condition may worsen, and doctors need to choose a suitable diet.
The medical staff of the Caucasus Medical Center will take care of the patients' condition - find the right treatment and nutrition.
Chemotherapy for stomach cancer involves taking medications that block tumor growth.
The use of chemotherapy is associated with some difficulties. Firstly, drugs have a toxic effect on all body cells, not only on the cells of a tumor. Secondly, mentioned medicine penetrates poorly into the abdominal cavity. Therefore, in some cases, drugs are sprayed under pressure to better penetrate the tumor.
Chemotherapy is rarely used as a separate method of treatment, more often taking drugs is combined with other methods. The five-year survival rate of patients taking chemotherapy drugs is 10-15%.
At the Caucasus Medical Center, the chemotherapy method is used in conjunction with other methods of treating stomach cancer. Patients of the Medical Center can consult with both hospital doctors and international specialists who regularly come to the clinic.
The hospital provides medical services to residents of Georgia and foreign patients at affordable prices. Patients do not need to worry about booking tickets, arranging transfers from the airport to the hospital or finding a translator. The administrative issues are fully managed by the clinic.
Everyone can refer to the Caucasus Medical Center for advice. All you need to do is fill out the application form on the website and attach the needed documents. A hospital employee will answer all questions in detail. You just have to choose the time for your visit to the doctor and come to Georgia. After completing the course of treatment, your attending doctor will give you all the necessary recommendations.