Stomach Cancer Treatments: A Comprehensive Guide

2. Stomach Removal

In some of the most severe stomach cancer cases the doctors decide that the only viable treatment approach requires a partial or full removal of the patient’s stomach. In medical language they call this a full or partial gastrectomy. Sometimes the surgeon also needs to remove the patient’s oesophagus along with the stomach. The extent of the stomach surgery required depends on how far the disease has spread. This also determines whether the surgeon makes a number of small cuts or one large cut, but since the patient is under general anesthetic they will remain totally oblivious to what is happening in the operating theater. This is major surgery that takes a long time to carry out and has a very long recovery time. The patient may expect to spend at least two weeks in the hospital and a significantly longer time of home rest.