Chemotherapy for stomach cancer

Chemotherapy for stomach cancer

The most tangible method of treating tumor diseases is considered to be a course of chemotherapy for gastric cancer after surgery.

Chemotherapy can be divided into the following areas:

  • Medical supplies after surgery;

  • Use of medications immediately before surgery;

  • Disseminated cancer that occurs after the primary operation and has the following consequences:

 – metastases to the lungs;

 – Metastases in the liver;

 – metastases in the abdominal cavity;

 – metastases to bone tissue.  

Treatment of gastric cancer with chemotherapy can be prescribed both as an independent method, and in combination with radiotherapy or surgical treatment. As a rule, drugs are taken after an intervention to destroy malignant cells.

In cases where radiation therapy and surgical operation are contraindicated for cancer patients, which happens quite rarely, the doctor may prescribe an independent course. This happens at stages 3 and 4 of cancer or with varieties of cancer that are not initially amenable to surgery.

Treatment with medications for grade 4 disease can be independent, when no types of treatment can effectively reduce the size of the neoplasm.

Chemotherapy drugs for stomach cancer are administered intravenously, in stationary conditions and under the supervision of a physician.

Chemotherapy after surgery

After surgery, patients undergo adjuvant treatment to destroy latent metastases and diseased cells present in the circulatory system and bone marrow.

Often, adjuvant chemotherapy for gastric cancer with metastases is performed as a prevention of recurrence of the disease.

Non-adjuvant treatment

Treatment with medications before surgery (non-adjuvant) aims to shrink the tumor. This method helps to remove some part of the stomach instead of completely cutting it off.

This therapy helps doctors assess the sensitivity of the tumors to drug-prescribed chemicals.

Intraperitoneal cancer treatment

Such a medicinal effect on the tumor is done immediately after the surgical operation. Its significance is explained by the high risk of manifestation of metastatic processes after removal of the neoplasm.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy after surgery for gastric cancer is indicated for the removal of the endophytic form of the tumor, with polliative resection of some metastases in the peritoneum.

If fluid buildup (ascites) occurs in the abdominal cavity after surgery, this procedure is also performed.

It looks like washing the abdominal cavity after resection of neoplasms with solutions of chemical preparations. Such solutions are able to prevent the processes of metastasis of developing cancer cells.

Palliative chemotherapy

When a patient has inoperable forms of stomach tumors and metastasis has moved to distant organs, doctors prescribe palliative treatment with chemicals in conjunction with radiotherapy.

Palliative therapy does not cure cancer, but only prolongs the life of the patient, alleviates his condition.  

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