Surgical oncology
Stomach cancer surgery
Removal of part or all of the stomach with clearance of the surrounding lymph nodes — often after chemotherapy given first.
In plain language
What this operation is
Stomach cancer often produces vague symptoms early on: indigestion that does not settle, a feeling of fullness after small meals, loss of appetite, or unexplained weight loss. Because those overlap with ordinary gastric complaints, it is frequently found late.
Surgery removes the affected part of the stomach — or all of it — together with the lymph nodes around it. The digestive tract is then reconnected so eating is possible.
For many stomach cancers, chemotherapy is given before surgery rather than after. That order is decided by the staging, not by preference.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- Indigestion or fullness that persists despite treatment
- Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- Vomiting, or vomiting blood, or black stools
- Cancer confirmed on endoscopy and biopsy
And when it is not. Most long-standing indigestion is not cancer. But indigestion that is new in an older patient, or that comes with weight loss, needs an endoscopy rather than more antacids.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
First consultation
History, examination and review of every report and film you already have. Bring the actual films, not only the printed summaries.
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02
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy confirms the diagnosis; imaging establishes how far the disease has gone. No treatment plan is made before this.
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03
The plan
Whether surgery is the right step, and in what order relative to chemotherapy or radiotherapy — agreed with you before anything is booked.
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04
Treatment and follow-up
The operation where appropriate, then the pathology report, and continuing follow-up.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- Eating restarts in stages — liquids, then soft food, then small frequent meals.
- Smaller, more frequent meals are usually needed long term, particularly after total gastrectomy.
- Vitamin and mineral levels including B12 are monitored and may need supplementing.
- Dietitian support is part of the treatment plan rather than an optional extra.
When to go to hospital instead
Vomiting blood, black stools, severe abdominal pain or fever needs emergency hospital care.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 Is my long-standing gastric problem actually cancer?
Usually not. But indigestion that is new in an older patient, that does not respond to treatment, or that comes with weight loss or vomiting, needs an endoscopy. That is the only way to distinguish them.
Symptoms02 Will chemotherapy come before or after surgery?
For many stomach cancers it is given before, to shrink the tumour and treat any spread that cannot be seen. The order is decided from the staging.
Sequence03 গ্যাস্ট্রিক নাকি ক্যান্সার, বুঝব কীভাবে?
শুধু লক্ষণ দেখে আলাদা করা যায় না। তবে বয়স চল্লিশের বেশি হলে, ওষুধে না কমলে, ওজন কমতে থাকলে বা বমি হলে এন্ডোস্কোপি করানো দরকার। বছরের পর বছর গ্যাস্ট্রিকের ওষুধ খেয়ে যাওয়াই সবচেয়ে বড় ঝুঁকি।
পার্থক্যNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.