Stomach Cancer

Your Winship care team draws on Emory’s vast resources in surgical oncology, radiation therapy and medical oncology, to provide the newest, most effective practices and treatments for stomach cancer.

Our multidisciplinary care teams include oncology surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists and advanced practice nurses with expertise in stomach cancer. As specialists, our teams develop groundbreaking surgeries and treatments that produce better outcomes and are adopted by other leading cancer centers.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly experienced teams include:

• Access to doctors and surgeons who rank among the top experts in the world.
• Weekly review of patient cases by the full team of experts.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the treatment process.
• Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.
• Availability of new treatment options within our clinical trials program.

Your Winship care team may use one or more tests and procedures to determine the stage of your cancer, including blood tests, biopsy, imaging tests and x-rays. Other tests may include:

Endoscopic ultrasound: a doctor inserts an endoscope into the stomach. The device produces sound waves that make an image on a video screen.

Upper GI series: also called a barium swallow, the patient swallows a contrasting dye and x-rays are taken to look for abnormal growths.

Your care team will discuss treatment options with you and it is important to take time and consider all possible choices.  One or more of the following types of treatment will be used.

Surgery: Surgery is the main treatment method for stomach cancer. Some of the procedures may include:

• Endoscopic mucosal resection: used primarily for early stage stomach cancer that has not spread throughout the body.
• Subtotal or partial gastrectomy: a surgeon removes cancerous tumors in the stomach along with lymph nodes and other organs near the tumor.
• Total gastrectomy: the entire stomach is removed along with nearby lymph nodes and other organs.

Doctors at Winship have developed a minimally invasive procedure that uses both laparoscopy and endoscopy simultaneously, for tumors located in difficult areas of the stomach. In many cases, this procedure leads to complete and safe removal of the tumor and with fewer potential complications and less chances of long-term problems. View a video to learn more.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery or radiation to maximize the treatment.

Radiation: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It may also be used in combination with a chemotherapy drug that makes the radiation more effective.

Targeted therapies: Winship’s most promising research in treating stomach cancer is in personalized medicine and targeted therapies. In personalized medicine, researchers identify unique characteristics of tumors that make them vulnerable to known drugs so therapy can be tailored to an individual’s cancer. In targeted therapies, investigators look for new drugs that more selectively target cancer cells with fewer side effects.

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.