Gastric (Stomach) Cancer: How It Is Treated — and Why Early Diagnosis Changes Everything
By Prof. Dr. Zahid Mahmood — General, Laparoscopic & Laser Surgeon
Stomach cancer sounds frightening, and it is a serious disease. But here is a fact that too few people know: when it is caught early, gastric cancer is one of the most curable cancers there is. The real problem is not that we lack good treatment — it is that most patients come to us late, when the disease is harder to cure. In this article I want to explain, in simple terms, how stomach cancer is treated today, and why acting early truly saves lives.
Warning signs you should not ignore
Early stomach cancer often causes only mild, easily-dismissed symptoms — the kind people blame on ordinary indigestion. Please see a doctor if you have:
- Persistent indigestion, heartburn or discomfort after meals
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
- Feeling full after only a few bites
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vomiting, or black, tarry stools (a sign of bleeding)
- Ongoing tiredness from low blood (anaemia)
These symptoms are usually caused by something harmless — but if they persist, a simple test can give you peace of mind.
How we find out
The key test is an endoscopy — a thin, flexible camera passed through the mouth to look inside the stomach and take a small tissue sample (biopsy). If cancer is found, a CT scan (and sometimes a keyhole look inside the abdomen) tells us the exact stage, which decides the best treatment.
The treatment options
1. Very early cancer. If the cancer is caught while still confined to the inner lining of the stomach, it can sometimes be removed through the endoscope itself — no major surgery, no external cuts. This is why early detection matters so much.
2. Surgery — the main curative treatment. For most patients, the cure is an operation to remove part of the stomach (subtotal gastrectomy) or the whole stomach (total gastrectomy), along with the nearby lymph glands. In experienced hands this can often be done by laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery, meaning smaller cuts and faster recovery.
3. Chemotherapy before and after surgery. Modern treatment usually includes chemotherapy given before the operation to shrink the tumour, and again afterwards. This combined approach has been proven to significantly improve survival. For certain cancers, newer targeted drugs are also available.
4. Care for advanced disease. When cure is not possible, we can still do a great deal to relieve symptoms — reopening blockages with a stent, controlling pain, and maintaining nutrition — so patients live more comfortably.
Life after stomach surgery
Most patients adjust well. Eating smaller, more frequent meals helps, and those who have the whole stomach removed will need regular vitamin B12 injections. With good follow-up, life returns to normal.
The one message to remember
Do not wait for stomach symptoms to “sort themselves out.” A quick check today could catch a problem while it is still completely curable.
To arrange a consultation with Prof. Dr. Zahid Mahmood, please call 0300 413 0159.
This article is for general awareness and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Please see a qualified doctor for advice about your own health.
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