Surgery is part of the treatment for stomach cancer, if it is possible. If the patient has not reached the fourth stage of stomach cancer and the overall health is suitable, surgery is recommended.

Surgery may involve removal of the cancer tumor or at times may also involve removal of part or all of the stomach and surrounding lymph nodes and tissues. This depends on the stage of cancer the patient has reached. Usually, if possible the doctor tries to not remove any other organ or tissues near the stomach.

Sometimes doctors may recommend surgery as an option even if the cancer has not spread. This way the stomach can be saved from further tumor growth and bleeding. This type of surgery is done to prevent further damage and symptoms and is commonly known as palliative surgery.

Other than this, I will be giving you some more information on other types of surgeries as well.

Endoscopic resection
Endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic sub-mucosal resection does not involve a cut in the skin and instead involves the surgeon passing a long and flexible tube with a mini-scule camera down the throat of the patient. This procedure may also include removal of the tumor and is typically used to treat early stage
cancers only.

Partial gastrectomy
Partial gastrectomy is often performed if the tumor is only in the upper part or only in the lower part of the stomach. This type of surgery involves removal of the diseased part of the stomach. The remaining healthy part is then reattached. The surgery usually involves removal of the nearby lymph nodes and tissues too.
Since only a part of the stomach is removed, the patient suffers from lesser side effects.

Total gastrectomy
If the cancer is only in the upper part of the stomach, doctors recommend a total gastrectomy. Also in patients who have tumor that has not been diagnosed in early stages and has spread all over the stomach, this procedure is advised.

Total gastrectomy involves removal of the stomach totally along with nearby lymph nodes,spleen and parts of the esophagus, intestines, and pancreas. The esophagus is finally attached to the small intestine. This way food is allowed to move down the intestinal tract. Remember that patients who have undergone this surgery will only be able to eat a very small amount of time and may need to eat frequently.

Partial and total gastrectomy involves a cut in the skin. Some doctors have shown good results with laparoscopic surgeries that involves removal of stomach through many small incisions instead of a large one, though this mode of surgery still needs more research on before it is implemented on a larger scale.

Feeding tube
It is a known fact that patients will not receive adequate nutrition after surgery. Hence, doctors insert a feeding tube into the intestine during the surgery. But on end of the tube is left outside the body. The patient can receive nutrition in the liquid form through this tube and is found to be highly beneficial to patients in avoiding malnutrition.

Stent placement:
Sometimes surgeons would prefer to insert a hollow metal tube known as stent in the opening of the stomach to prevent the tumor from blocking the opening and allows food to pass through endoscopic


Side effects of surgery

Surgery for stomach cancer is quite a complicated surgery and can have complications. Some of the complications to be aware of are:

Bleeding
Blood clots
Damage to nearby
Since the small intestine is being connected to the esophagus, it may cause a leak
Nausea
Heartburn
But remember that chances of these complications goes down if the surgery is performed by an experienced and skilled doctor . So no need to worry. Also the death rates after stomach cancer
surgeries have drastically reduced.

Patients will not be allowed to eat or drink for at least a few days after the surgery.

Before going for the surgery, discuss with your doctors all the details discussed, as you will be having more clarity on the type of surgery that is being performed and will be better prepared

Also check out our other Blogs