Stomach Cancer

Treatment

At Mayo Clinic, your treatment team partners with you to create a plan appropriate for your needs. This treatment plan takes into account your overall health, the extent (stage) of the cancer and your preferences. The primary treatments for gastric cancer (stomach cancer) include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

• Surgery. The type and extent of the surgery depends on the location and extent of the cancer. It can range from minimally invasive to removing the entire stomach and adjacent organs such as the spleen.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It may be given before surgery, after surgery (to treat cancer that may remain), or during and following radiation. Chemotherapy may be the main treatment when the tumor can't be surgically removed because the cancer has spread.
• Radiation therapy. Doctors may recommend radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. Radiation oncologists at Mayo have extensive experience in the treatment of gastric cancer, and they use specialized techniques to limit the radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue. In special cases, Mayo Clinic has the capability of adding intraoperative radiation treatments.
• Targeted therapy. Some drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, are directed against specific targets on tumor cells. At Mayo Clinic, gastric cancers are routinely tested for the presence of these targets to be able to select specific medical treatment options for you.