Stomach Cancer

• Risks for gastric cancer include:
• Chronic atrophic gastritis
• Eating large amounts of salted, smoked or pickled foods
• Having a family history of stomach cancer
• Having had a helicobacter pylori infection or stomach inflammation
• History of an adenomatous gastric polyp larger than 2 centimeters
• History of pernicious anemia
• Smoking cigarettes

Men are at higher risk for stomach cancer than women.

Doctors use the following tests to confirm a diagnosis of gastrointestinal carcinoma:

• Complete medical history
• Physical exam
• CT scan
• Ultrasound
• Endoscopic ultrasound
• MRI
• PET scan
• Needle biopsy

Your doctor may also order blood tests to help determine the diagnosis, including a complete blood count (CBC), liver function and tumor markers.

Stomach (gastric) cancer treatment includes surgery and may also include chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Gastrectomy

Gastrectomy, or surgical removal of the stomach, is the only treatment for gastric cancer that can cure the condition. Depending on the stage of the cancer, your oncologist may also recommend radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for locally advanced cancers, in which the tumor has grown into nearby blood vessels and other tissues, but has not spread to the liver or distant organs.

Radiation Therapy

We use the most advanced radiation therapy technology to help patients fight cancer with less scarring, shorter recovery times and a quicker return to productivity.

Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers are accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC). This rare distinction is given to cancer programs that uphold the highest standard of care for patients. When you choose Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers for your cancer treatment, you can rest assured you will receive the best possible care delivered by a compassionate team of caregivers in a calm, healing environment.