At Englewood Health, we’ve created disease-specific teams of providers specializing in stomach cancer, as well as patient navigators and specialists in nutrition, pain and palliative medicine, integrative medicine, genetic counseling, and other supportive services.
Your team meets regularly to discuss your case, review test results, offer recommendations for therapy, and develop individualized treatment plans based on the type and stage of your stomach cancer.
Your Care Team
Your treatment team may include:
- Medical oncologists, who treat stomach cancer using medications.
- Radiation oncologists, who plan and administer targeted radiation therapy.
- Gastrointestinal surgeons, who specialize in surgical procedures for cancers of the digestive system, including stomach cancer.
- Nutritionists or dietitians, who provide guidance on maintaining proper nutrition during treatment, which is crucial for your overall health and recovery.
Surgery for Stomach Cancer
Surgery may be an option for people with early-stage cancer that is confined to the stomach and has not spread to other organs. Whenever possible, our surgeons perform minimally invasive procedures, including robotic stomach cancer surgery, operating through small incisions so you'll have less discomfort afterward and recover more quickly. Surgical options include:
- Partial gastrectomy: Removal of a portion of the stomach to take out cancerous tissue while preserving the main part of the stomach.
- Total gastrectomy: Removal of the entire stomach. The esophagus is then connected to the small intestine so eating and swallowing are still possible.
Medical Treatments for Stomach Cancer
Our Infusion Center, located on the Englewood Hospital campus, offers a comfortable and convenient experience for patients returning often for therapy. We also offer medical treatments at our Jersey City and Fair Lawn locations, including:
- Chemotherapy: Drugs to kill cancer cells are given before surgery to shrink tumors, or after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the chance of the cancer coming back.
- Targeted therapy: These drugs specifically target the proteins fueling cancer cell growth and survival, minimizing damage to healthy cells.
- Immunotherapy: These medications boost the power of the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells and are used in people with advanced stomach cancer.
Radiation Therapy for Stomach Cancer
- Radiation therapy can be very effective, especially for stomach cancer that has not spread or patients who cannot have surgery.
- Radiation may be targeted to specific areas of the stomach or nearby regions, used in combination with other treatments, or applied before or after surgery to shrink the tumor or kill any remaining cancer cells.
- Englewood Health’s radiation oncology team offers therapy that spares healthy tissue, using state-of-the-art equipment at the Coe Radiation Oncology Center at our main Englewood Hospital campus.
Geriatric Oncology for Stomach Cancer
At Englewood Health, we offer specialized care for older adults diagnosed with stomach cancer. Our team focuses on the unique needs of elderly patients, tailoring treatment plans to address both the cancer and any age-related health concerns. With a comprehensive approach that balances effective cancer treatment and maintaining quality of life, we provide personalized care that takes into account the patient's overall well-being and treatment tolerability.
Clinical Trials
Our oncologists participate in many clinical trials evaluating promising new treatment options for stomach cancer. A clinical trial may give you access to a cutting-edge therapy that is not yet available as a standard treatment. Your care team will let you know if you may be eligible for any clinical trials. The decision to participate is entirely yours.
Survivorship Services
After completing multidisciplinary therapy, patients are guided through a comprehensive survivorship meeting. This meeting provides an opportunity to review the treatments received and establish a personalized plan for ongoing surveillance and follow-up care. Our team will assess your current health status, discuss strategies for monitoring your recovery, and help ensure you have the necessary support for long-term well-being following stomach cancer treatment.