The majority of Gastrointestinal cancers found by doctors today has progressed past the early stage. Because of this, almost all patients with stomach cancer will require some type of surgery to treat the disease — either a traditional open surgery or a minimally invasive surgery.
The aim of surgery is to cure the disease. Surgery can also improve patients’ quality of life, allowing them to eat and be more comfortable.
To treat stomach cancer, a surgeon may perform a:
Partial gastrectomy: This procedure removes part of the stomach. Doctors typically remove lymph nodes and fatty tissue as well to help ensure all the cancer is gone.
Total gastrectomy: Doctors remove the entire stomach, surrounding lymph nodes and fatty tissue. Next, the surgical team connects the esophagus to the intestines. A surgeon may create a new “stomach,” or pouch, by folding over a portion of the intestines, to allow for more effective digestion.
Every surgery presents risks, and these procedures require precision.
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