Gastric Adenocarcinoma at 10x Magnification

The primary treatment for most stomach cancer patients is surgery, the only means of possibly fully curing the disease. The specific type of operation that is utilized depends chiefly on the location and the extent of the tissue involved. Early-stage cancers, for instance, are sometimes suitable for endoscopic tumor removal techniques, whereas more advanced cancers may require partial or complete removal of the stomach (gastrectomy) as well as removal of nearby lymph nodes. Radiation therapy is often used following surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and can be used to shrink tumors and relieve symptoms of individuals for whom surgery is considered unsuitable. Chemotherapy is also commonly used as an adjuvant therapy, as well as a primary treatment for patients with metastases.