Surgery
This can be an effective method to treat early stage stomach cancer. During surgery, the doctor may remove part or all of the stomach. In the advanced stages of stomach cancer, surgery may still be advised to reduce complications such as blockage of the stomach or bleeding from the cancer.
Radiation Therapy
After surgery, radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, may be given together with chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancer not removed during surgery. In patients with advanced stomach cancer, radiotherapy may be useful for relieving stomach blockage. It may also be used to stop bleeding from cancers that cannot be operated on.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to help kill cancer cells and shrink the size of the tumour. It can be given by itself or combined with radiotherapy after surgery. It may also be used to reduce symptoms or lengthen the lifespan of patients with advanced stomach cancer that cannot be operated upon.
Targeted Therapy
Some stomach cancers have too much of a growth-promoting protein called HER2 on the surface of the cancer cells. Tumours with increased levels of HER2 are called HER2-positive. Trastuzumab (Herceptin®) is a man-made antibody which targets the HER2 protein. Using this drug with chemotherapy can help patients suffering from advanced, HER2-positive stomach cancer live longer than with just chemotherapy alone.
How to Prevent Stomach Cancer?
In many developed countries, where refrigeration allows a greater intake of fresh rather than salt-preserved foods, rates of stomach cancer have fallen over the years. Here are some steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer:
- Consume more fresh fruits and vegetables
- Reduce intake of salted and smoked foods
- Stop smoking
- Know your medical history (eg. past H. pylori infection) and go for regular gastroscopy screening