Hi all. I’m here to discuss a vital topic: stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, where early detection is absolutely critical. Unfortunately, in its initial stages, the symptoms are often subtle—things like persistent indigestion, mild nausea, or feeling full after eating very little. Because these signs can be easily mistaken for routine issues, many cases are diagnosed when the cancer is already advanced.
The key to finding this disease early is vigilance. If you experience persistent, unexplained digestive symptoms for more than a few weeks, it’s important to talk to your doctor. The gold standard for diagnosis is an upper endoscopy with a biopsy. This procedure allows physicians to directly view the stomach lining and take tissue samples for a definitive diagnosis, which is crucial for successful intervention.
If caught early, treatment can be highly effective and often curative. For early-stage cancer, the primary treatment is surgery, which involves removing part or all of the stomach. For more advanced cases, treatment becomes a multi-pronged approach, often combining surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
We as surgical oncologists, offer advanced laparoscopic (Key hole surgery) and Robotic surgical options to our patients. In addition, we also have promising, modern options like targeted drug therapies and immunotherapy, which use the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer.
Remember, knowing your risk and advocating for timely diagnosis is the most powerful tool we have. Thank you.