Stomach Cancer Treatment

The gastrointestinal (GI) care providers at Winship are experts in stomach cancer treatment. We perform more stomach cancer resections (surgery) than any other center in Georgia, which is a complex procedure that can have catastrophic repercussions if not done correctly. And because we are a research institute, we offer more stomach cancer treatment options than any other cancer center in the state. Even if you’ve been told you’re out of options at another center, we may be able to help.

Because every case of stomach cancer is different, there is no single stomach cancer treatment protocol that works for everyone. Even if your cancer is diagnosed at the same stage and in the same location as someone else’s, your cancer is unique at the molecular level — and it should be treated that way.

The gastrointestinal cancer experts at Winship use the latest technology and advanced testing to analyze your particular stomach cancer at every level. Your team of physicians — including your surgeon, pathologist, radiation oncologist, medical oncologist and more — will meet to determine the best course of treatment for your cancer. This enables your care team to develop a plan to treat your cancer as aggressively as possible while minimizing side effects.

Once your personalized stomach cancer treatment plan is created, your team will discuss it with you, and treatment at Winship will be scheduled right away. We will even work with you and your local doctors in the event you decide to stay closer to home for treatment. Our goal is to ensure that you get your cancer treated the way it needs to be, wherever that is.

As Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winship researchers are pioneers in stomach cancer treatment, leading clinical trials to develop and study new stomach cancer treatment options each year. In fact, many of the drugs used to treat cancer today came out of clinical trials performed at Winship, which means our patients were some of the first to benefit. In other words, we can offer you access to the latest stomach cancer treatment you won’t find at other cancer centers.

The Winship gastrointestinal cancer team is currently investigating a number of stomach cancer treatment options, including combination chemotherapy, targeted therapies, proton therapy and immunotherapy. Talk to your physician if you’re interested in taking part in a trial. We make every effort to match as many patients as possible to ongoing research.

At Winship, we offer the most comprehensive array of stomach cancer treatment options in Georgia, and the expertise to treat this complex disease. Based on your unique cancer, your treatment plan may include:

Surgery

Most patients with stomach cancer will have surgery to treat their disease. Sometimes that involves removing only the tumor while other times that means removing the entire stomach and some surrounding structures. Winship surgical oncologists are experts in stomach cancer procedures, including resection, which is a complex procedure that should only be performed by highly skilled surgeons. Winship’s surgical oncologists are some of the top surgeons in the country and they perform more stomach cancer surgery than any other center in Georgia.

Chemotherapy

Nearly all stomach cancer treatment plans will include some form of chemotherapy, which involves the use of medication taken orally or injected to attack cancer cells throughout the body. Frequently, multiple drugs are prescribed in combination to increase efficacy, and new therapies are continually being developed and tested right here at Winship. We’re also currently looking at stomach cancer treatment sequencing, the timing of when chemotherapy is given in relation to surgery and radiation, to increase its effectiveness.

Targeted Therapy

This type of drug therapy is different from chemotherapy in that it targets a cancer’s specific gene mutations, selectively targeting cancer cells while producing fewer side effects. Winship is currently collaborating in multiple large-scale clinical trial that monitors patients’ response to targeted therapy. Depending on how their genomic profile changes during the course of stomach cancer treatment, we can match patients whose cancer has mutated with additional therapies.

Immunotherapy

This type of stomach cancer treatment uses drugs to help your body’s immune system recognize and enhance its ability to attack cancer cells. Winship is one of the centers pioneering the use of immunotherapies in stomach cancer treatment. Besides leading immunotherapy clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers, Winship has an entire immunotherapy research program that is advancing the world’s understanding of how our immune systems can be harnessed to fight cancer.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy, the use of high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells, may or may not be included in your stomach cancer treatment plan. If it is, it should be performed by an experienced radiation oncologist, given the stomach’s proximity to other organs. Winship’s gastroenterology cancer team includes radiation oncologists who specialize in stomach cancer treatment.

Proton Therapy

Winship is the only cancer center in Georgia, and one of an elite group in the nation, to offer proton therapy, a powerful and precise form of radiation therapy used to treat stomach cancers in some patients. Proton therapy delivers a high dose of radiation to a tumor while preventing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

At Winship, we strive to deliver the most effective treatment while also minimizing side effects. But coping with stomach cancer and the side effects of stomach cancer treatment — particularly the physical and psychosocial challenges associated with malnutrition and weight loss — can be difficult. That’s why we have a supportive oncology team of specialized doctors and nurses on staff to help you with the physical, psychological and emotional aspects of living with cancer, including symptom management and counseling. This team — with the help of counselors, dietitians, social service professionals and others — will be with you every step of the way, supporting you during your experience and beyond.