Stomach Cancer (cont.)
Treatment
The choice of treatment depends mainly on the size and location of the tumor,
the stage of disease, and your general health.
Treatment for stomach cancer may involve surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation
therapy. You'll probably receive more than one type of treatment. For example,
chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery. It's often given at the same
time as radiation therapy.
You may want to talk with your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial,
a research study of new treatment methods. Clinical trials are an important
option for people at any stage of stomach cancer.
You may have a team of specialists to help plan your treatment. Your doctor
may refer you to a specialist, or you may ask for a referral. Specialists who
treat stomach cancer include gastroenterologists, surgeons, medical oncologists,
and radiation oncologists. Your health care team may also include an oncology
nurse and a registered dietitian.
Your health care team can describe your treatment choices, the expected
results, and the possible side effects. Because cancer therapy often damages
healthy cells and tissues, side effects are common. Before treatment starts, ask
your health care team about possible side effects, how to prevent or reduce
these effects, and how treatment may change your normal activities. You and your
health care team can work together to make a treatment plan that meets your
needs.
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You may want to ask your doctor these questions before you begin treatment:
- What is the stage of the disease? Has the cancer spread? Do any lymph nodes
show signs of cancer?
- What is the goal of treatment? What are my treatment
choices? Which do you suggest for me? Why?
- What are the expected benefits of
each kind of treatment?
- What can I do to prepare for treatment?
- Will I need to
stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
- What are the risks and possible side
effects of each treatment? How can side effects be managed?
- What is the
treatment likely to cost? Will my insurance cover it?
- How will treatment affect
my normal activities? Am I likely to have eating or other problems?
- Would a
research study (clinical trial) be a good choice for me?
- Can you recommend other
doctors who could give me a second opinion about my treatment options?
- How often
should I have checkups?
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