Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is a cancer that starts in the stomach. Staging for gastric cancer determines the role for chemotherapy, either before or after surgery. Once this thorough evaluation is complete, our surgeons collaborate with colleagues in medical oncology to construct a treatment plan that will help ensure the best possible outcome.

• Subtotal or total gastrectomy:

   In patients with tumors that are located in a higher position, the majority of the stomach or the entire stomach may need to be resected to ensure that the cancer is completely removed with surrounding lymph nodes. The downstream intestine is then reattached to the stomach remnant, allowing normal food intake and digestion. Each of our patients receive a thorough consultation with a certified nutritionist prior to discharge home to ensure they learn how to maintain a healthy diet following subtotal or total gastrectomy.

• Laparoscopic gastrectomy:

   In certain cases where the cancer is early stage, or is a less aggressive type of stomach tumor, our surgeons can perform gastrectomy using minimally invasive surgery. Laparoscopic surgery results in smaller scars, and it generally allows patients a shorter hospital stay with quicker recovery times.

• Regional lymphadenectomy:

   In a study of all patients undergoing gastrectomy in the United States, only 10 percent of patients received the D2 lymph node dissection that is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's guidelines for gastric cancer.