Stomach Cancer Treatment In Delhi
Overview
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is cancer that starts in the stomach’s lining. It happens when the stomach’s cell lining begins to grow uncontrollably and develop tumours. In turn, these tumours invade healthy cells and distribute cancerous cells to various body organs.
Men are more likely to develop stomach cancer than women, and it typically affects the elderly.
A surgical procedure for stomach cancer is a common treatment, particularly in the early stages. A surgical procedure for stomach cancer (sometimes in combination with other treatments) provides the best opportunity to try to treat it if it has not progressed to other body parts.
Although this will affect your digestive process, you will continue to be able to drink and eat. The procedure can also limit the spread of your cancer and keep it from returning.
Treatment options based on the stage of stomach cancer
Treatment for stomach cancer is largely determined by the location of the ailment in the stomach and the extent to which it has spread. However, other elements, including a person’s age, general health, and preferences, may also be important. The different stages and treatment options are:
- Stage 0: The cancer is in its early stages and only affects the inside of the stomach. It can be treated with endoscopic resection.
- Stage 1: Stomach cancer has spread to the stomach’s inner layers. Treatment options include surgery, endoscopic mucosal resection, surgery, and chemotherapy.
- Stage 2: Cancer has spread through or into the stomach’s inner, supporting, muscle, or outer layers. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy.
- Stage 3: Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy.
- Stage 4: Cancer has progressed through the stomach’s outer lining and into surrounding tissues or organs. It is known as metastatic cancer. Treatment options include surgery and chemotherapy.
Will I need to have surgery if I have stomach cancer?
Patients with stomach cancer will require surgery to be effectively treated. Sometimes, particularly in cases of very early-stage disease, a minimally invasive endoscopic approach can completely cure the body of stomach cancer.
During this endoscopic treatment, a doctor will:
- Place a flexible tube (an endoscope) through the mouth of the patient.
- Send this tube to the damaged area.
- Use specialised devices connected to the endoscope to eliminate any cancerous tissue.
Conventional stomach cancer surgeries can be beneficial for treating disease that has advanced past the initial stages or can help patients improve their lives by enabling them to eat and feel more comfortable.
During a surgical procedure for stomach cancer, a surgeon will:
- Make an incision in the patient’s abdomen.
- Remove the diseased part of the stomach along with surrounding tissue and lymph nodes, if necessary.
Factors affecting the treatment
Following the diagnosis of stomach cancer, a doctor may advise one of several procedures depending on a variety of criteria, such as:
- The overall health of a patient: A doctor will carefully review a patient’s medical history to ensure that they are healthy enough for major stomach cancer surgery in Delhi.
- Stomach cancer staging: A surgeon will use diagnostic tests to check if and where the cancer has progressed to identify its site.
What happens during a surgical procedure for stomach cancer?
The majority of stomach cancers detected by doctors nowadays are advanced cases. Due to this, practically all stomach cancer patients will need surgery of some type to address the disease, whether it be a minimally invasive procedure or an open surgical treatment.
Stomach cancer surgery in Delhi is intended to cure the condition. Surgery can also lead to a patient’s having an improved quality of life by enabling them to eat and feel more comfortable.
A surgeon may conduct a gastrectomy to treat stomach cancer. Gastrectomy is a surgery to remove stomach. Gastrectomy entails two types of surgical procedures for stomach cancer.
Partial gastrectomy
Part of the stomach is removed during this surgical procedure for stomach cancer. Doctors commonly remove fatty tissue and lymph nodes as well to ensure that all cancer has been removed. The remaining part of the stomach is ultimately reattached.
If cancer has spread to the spleen, this is also removed. Your doctor may also remove parts of other organs, depending on where the tumour is located.
Total gastrectomy
A total gastrectomy is essential if you have advanced stomach cancer that has not spread (metastasized) to other organs. It is also usually advised if the cancer is in the upper part of the stomach, close to the oesophagus.
The complete stomach is removed, along with any surrounding fatty tissue and lymph nodes. The oesophagus is then joined to the intestine by the healthcare professional. A surgeon may build a pouch or new “stomach” by rolling over a part of the intestines to facilitate more effective digestion.
Each surgical treatment carries a certain level of risk and necessitates expertise. These risks can be decreased by selecting a doctor and medical staff with extensive experience in stomach cancer surgery in Delhi.
Option for Minimally Invasive Surgery
Our surgeons have pioneered the use of minimally invasive surgical methods to assist in the treatment of stomach cancer. The two main options you have for treatment—robot-assisted surgery or laparoscopy—will be discussed at a meeting with your medical team. Both methods can help reduce your recovery period and decrease the likelihood of complications.
Robot-assisted surgery
With this method, your surgeon operates on you from a console that shows a magnified 3D view of the interior of your abdomen that has been lighted with a specific fluorescent dye. This results in better surgical outcomes and improved quality of life for many patients, particularly when used as a component of a comprehensive care plan.
Early functional recovery following robotic-assisted gastrectomy enables patients to start adjuvant chemotherapy quicker, improving the oncological safety of the minimally invasive approach.
Laparoscopy
With his technique, your surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin and places a laparoscope—a lighted, thin tube with a video camera—into your abdomen. The surgeon can perform surgery through this tiny aperture, using specialised tools.
Who is not an ideal candidate for a gastrectomy?
Your doctor will assess the stage and type of your stomach cancer, in addition to any other health issues you may be experiencing. Some conditions, such as anaemia and hypoproteinemia (reduced blood protein concentrations), increase your risk of experiencing serious complications from this treatment.
Preparing for a gastrectomy
Being in good health before surgery to remove stomach will make healing easier. You should engage in routine aerobic exercise and consume a well-balanced diet. We can create a diet and exercise programme that is ideal for you.
We provide you with detailed instructions regarding when you should discontinue taking medications, drinking, eating, and drinking in the weeks and days before your surgery. Any surgical procedure requiring anaesthesia must be performed on an empty stomach. These recommendations are aimed at keeping you safe. If you do not follow the instructions, we may have to cancel your procedure.
What is the normal recovery time after a surgical procedure for stomach cancer?
The recovery time will be determined by the percentage of the stomach removed by the surgeon. Patients who have a partial gastrectomy may expect:
- Stay in the hospital for three to five days following stomach cancer surgery in Delhi.
- Weight loss for one to six weeks
- Resuming regular eating habits three to six months following a surgical procedure for stomach cancer.
Patients who have a total gastrectomy can expect:
- Stay in the hospital for five to eight days following surgery.
- Weight loss for approximately two months.
- Adapt to a new nutritional “normal” during the next few months as your digestive system recovers.
- Consume a multivitamin with iron and calcium to prevent anaemia.
- Add vitamin B12 supplements to your diet.
Many patients have “dumping syndrome” following a surgical procedure for stomach cancer. These symptoms occur within minutes of eating when food enters the intestine very quickly. You may feel:
- Pain
- Abdominal cramping
- Lightheadedness
- Diarrhoea
Survival rates
The rate of survival for stomach cancer usually depends on the stage of the disease. In general, the rates of five-year survival are as follows:
|
Stage of stomach cancer |
Survival rate |
|
1 |
55-60 percent |
|
2 |
45-50 percent |
|
3 |
35-40 percent |
|
4 |
5-10 percent |
How can I reduce my post-surgery symptoms of stomach cancer?
Eating more frequent and smaller meals can help prevent and relieve uncomfortable symptoms after surgery to remove stomach. Patients can also benefit from a diet that is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates.
It can take some patience and time to get used to a new dietary pattern after a surgical procedure for stomach cancer. It may be comforting to be mindful that painful sensations like abdominal discomfort and cramps usually get better or go away over time. Many patients are back to their regular or near-normal food patterns one year after stomach cancer surgery in Delhi.
Dr. Asit Arora is the most experienced and skilled surgeon for stomach cancer surgery in Delhi. Dr. Asit Arora prepares patients for surgical procedures and any quality-of-life adjustments with complete counselling and nutrition support.
What is liver cancer?
Liver cancer is a life-threatening condition that starts in the liver when the hepatocytes or cholangiocytes (liver cells) begin to grow out of control. The treatment and prognosis of these tumours vary based on their different causes.
What are the types of liver cancer?
There are two types of liver cancer:
- Primary liver cancer: Liver cancer is commonly known as hepatocellular cancer. Primary liver cancer develops in the liver’s cells, blood vessels, bile ducts, or connective tissue.
- Secondary liver cancer – If it originates in another part of the body and spreads to the liver, it is also known as metastatic liver cancer.
Liver cancer specialists perform tests to diagnose the disease and begin treatment. If a person falls under the high-risk category for developing liver cancer, they are advised to undergo regular screening tests to detect cancer at its inception.
Causes and risk factors for liver cancer
A person feels liver cancer pain when liver cells develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA is the material that offers instructions for every chemical process in your body, and these DNA mutations cause changes in these instructions, and as a result, they start growing uncontrollably and form a tumour. Several causes contribute to liver cancer:
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis B infection
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Family history
- Alcohol abuse and smoking
- Prolonged use of anabolic steroids
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Some inherited liver diseases, like Wilson’s disease
- Herbicides
- Chemicals such as arsenic and vinyl chloride
Secondary liver cancer is most common in those who have cancers of the large intestine (colon), stomach, pancreas, breast, or lung. It is critical to understand where cancer began since this will define the type of cells that are producing the disease and which treatment option is most suitable for you.
What are the symptoms?
When liver cancer is in its early stages, a person might have no symptoms, which typically leads to a delay in diagnosis. When patients develop symptoms, they are often so mild that they are neglected. However, patients may experience some symptoms when the swelling in the liver develops. Some symptoms of liver cancer include:
- Enlarged liver
- Upper abdominal pain
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Swelling or fluid buildup in the abdominal area
- Jaundice
- Nausea
- Chalky stools
- Weakness and fatigue
- Vomiting
- Lump in the abdomen
You should make an appointment with the best liver cancer surgeon in Delhi, NCR, if you experience any of the above-listed signs and symptoms that worry you.
Different stages of liver cancer
After a person’s liver cancer is diagnosed, doctors will try to figure out to what extent it has spread. This process is called staging. The stages of liver cancer describe how much cancer is in the body and help determine how severe the condition is and what the best treatment is for it.
Liver cancer stages range from stage 1 to stage 4, and the lower the number, the less cancer has spread.
- Stage 1: The first stage of liver cancer is when a tumour develops within the liver and its effects are localised and have not spread.
- Stage 2: In the second stage of liver cancer, the tumour grows in dimension, reaching a size of 5 cm across, and there is a chance of developing small tumours. However, the spread is still localised.
- Stage 3: This stage is divided into A, B, and C and is classified by the outgrowth of the tumour.
- Stage 4: It is the last stage of liver cancer, and the size and number of tumours in the liver grow dramatically. The stage also marks the spread of the tumour into lymph nodes, blood vessels, and many surrounding organs. The fourth stage is also divided into A and B.
Liver cancer treatment
Treatment options for liver cancer depend on the stage of the disease, liver function, and the patient’s overall health. Patients should communicate with their doctor to determine the most appropriate treatment options for their particular needs.
If your cancer is in its early stages and the remaining part of your liver is healthy, a surgical procedure (partial hepatectomy) may heal you. If your cancer is in its early stages but the remaining part of your liver is not functioning properly, you may need to be treated with a liver transplant.
In cases where the liver tumour is in a difficult-to-remove area (for example, very close to a main blood vessel), a transplant may potentially be a solution. Inoperable cancers are those that have not yet progressed to distant areas of the body or lymph nodes but cannot be safely removed with a partial hepatectomy. Treatment options include embolisation, ablation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy. For these cancers, treatment may reduce the size of the tumour(s) enough to enable surgery.
The advanced stage of liver cancer has progressed to the lymph nodes and/or other organs. Since these tumours are so widespread, surgery cannot be used to remove them.
Liver cancer surgery
There are two main types of liver cancer surgery:
- Partial hepatectomy: This includes removing only a portion of the liver along with the tumour and some healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. MRI, CT, and other imaging tests are initially conducted to determine whether or not the tumour can be entirely removed.
- Liver transplant: During this surgery, the liver is totally removed and replaced with a new, healthy one. This helps in the restoration of liver function and minimises the probability of cancer recurrence. Patients with liver cirrhosis and tumours, as well as large liver tumours, are candidates for liver transplantation. Transplants can be received from a close family member (a portion of the liver is taken) or from deceased donors for surgery.
Other treatment options
The following approaches are commonly used in the treatment of liver cancer in Delhi:
- Surgery for small lesions
- Ablation, which includes the destruction of tumours without their removal.
- Embolization, which involves cutting off blood flow to the tumour cells in the liver.
- Targeted therapy, which involves the introduction of medicines into the bloodstream.
- Immunotherapy, which includes delivering medication intravenously to help the body identify and destroy cancer cells.
If your liver cancer is advanced, treatment may take some time. However, doctors will treat and limit cancer and its symptoms, helping you to live longer with fewer complications.
Liver cancer treatment cost and survival rates
Liver cancer treatment cost depends on many factors, for example, consultation costs, medication cost, hospital choice, hospitalisation period, diagnosis procedure, room and stay charges, fees of the medical team, the experience of the doctor, additional medical tests (if required), and post-surgery follow-up care costs.
Survival rates are commonly used to determine how many patients with a specific stage of liver cancer are alive five years after treatments. Liver cancer survival rates are good if it is diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
Thus, it is vital to contact your doctor as soon as you observe any of the symptoms of liver cancer, or else you are at increased risk of developing cancer. An early liver cancer diagnosis helps you get treatment early and stops the cancer from spreading.
Followup care
The physician providing liver cancer treatment in Delhi will perform routine medical check-ups to determine whether the disease has resurfaced. The concerned doctor may perform a series of medical tests, physical examinations, or combined approaches as follow-up care.
The physician will also look for any side effects of the procedure. Let your doctor know about any changes you see in your body after treatment so that an appropriate follow-up care plan may be created.
Why choose India for liver cancer surgery?
Liver cancer treatment cost in India is quite affordable, and many Indian hospitals have adopted advanced methodologies for radiation therapy. Surgical departments are well equipped to provide minimally invasive procedures, which reduce recovery time and pain and have many other benefits for patients.
Why choose Dr. Asit Arora for liver cancer surgery?
Dr. Asit Arora is one of the best doctors for liver cancer surgery in Delhi and is currently working as a Director and head of the Division of GI & HPB Oncology at Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket, Gurugram, and Max Smart. He is among the top doctors in India, and his area of expertise includes HPB cancer surgery, Advanced laparoscopic surgery, and Gastrointestinal Oncosurgery. In the 2022 ET Healthcare Awards, he was awarded Oncosurgeon of the Year for his attempts to provide the best treatment to patients in this field of cancer care.