Stomach Cancer Treatment

While Stomach Cancer is a serious health issue, working with a world-leading Clinical Oncologist like Dr Andy Gaya can provide access to all the vital tools needed to fight cancer. He specialises in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and has access to the most advanced oncology treatments in the world. Dr Gaya gives his stomach cancer patients a highly comprehensive and completely personalised oncological care plan.

Stomach Cancer treatment looks different to different patients, it all depends on the stage of the cancer and the individual’s overall health and multiple other factors. People with Stomach Cancer diagnosed in the early stages have the best long-term outlook, but even patients with late-stage cancer can feel confident that treatments are advancing rapidly and being committed to improving their overall health will also improve how they respond to treatment.

Taking control of Stomach Cancer

When it comes to cancer treatment it is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Just as every person has a fingerprint unique to them, every patient’s cancer has its own unique genetic fingerprint. The first step in optimising cancer treatment is to understand the cancer’s “fingerprint”.

Dr Gaya will organise a tumour analysis to uncover the unique genetic profile of the patient’s cancer. From here Dr Gaya can recommend – from the entire spectrum of conventional cancer treatments, newer advanced treatments, other medications, supplements and lifestyle modifications – to positively impact the patient’s quality of life and overall survival.

Conventional Treatments

Stomach cancer patients may be offered one or more of the following treatment options, based on the cancer’s stage. These are some of the most common treatments:

Surgery

where the doctor removes the cancerous cells) is the most common option for patients with Stomach Cancer that hasn’t spread. For cancers that are only in one layer of the stomach the procedure is called ‘Endoscopic Mucosal Dissection’ (or ‘Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection’). For larger cancers which have spread then part (or all) of the stomach is removed and stitched back together called a partial (or total) gastrectomy

Chemotherapy

Involves the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to eliminate cancer cells. Chemotherapy can also be used in advanced to control Stomach Cancer, giving a patient more time, controlling symptoms and improving quality of life

Radiotherapy

Uses targeted high-energy x-ray beams to eliminate cancer cells. It can control the spread of stomach cancer in patients who cannot have surgery. It can also be used to control symptoms of cancer spread

Combining treatments can give a patient the best chance of fighting Stomach Cancer. For example, surgery and chemotherapy together (giving chemo before and after an operation). Chemo-radiotherapy is where Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy are given. Sometimes Radiotherapy is given before or after surgery. Dr Andy Gaya will recommend the best combination, taking into consideration your overall health and the type of Stomach Cancer you have.

Advanced treatments

Dr Andy Gaya is one of the leading Consultant Clinical Oncologists in Europe and he specialises in gastrointestinal cancers, like stomach cancer. As a private doctor he has access to the most advanced oncology treatments in the world as soon as they are approved. Due to regulatory frameworks, NHS patients typically have to wait until drugs are assessed and approved by NICE and then later rolled out into NHS hospitals (which can be months or years later than when they are licensed). For stomach cancer patients, where time is of the essence, working with Dr Gaya means immediate access to a wide range of advanced therapies, such as:

Trastuzumab is commonly used to treat breast cancer; however, it is also now an option for patients with advanced stomach cancer. Whilst trastuzumab doesn’t cure stomach cancer, it does slow down its progression (sometimes alongside chemotherapy too). It can only be used if the cancer is identified as HER2 positive on testing. There are also newer forms of Trastuzumab such as Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (Enhertu) which can work in patients who are HER2 low or after failure of conventional trastuzumab.

Zolbetuximab is another new development in Stomach Cancer and has been shown to attack a protein called ‘Claudin 18.2’. If testing of a stomach cancer is positive for this protein, then this drug can be used in combination with chemotherapy

Immunotherapy works by boosting the patient’s immune system to recognise the cancer as “foreign” and then eliminate it. Immunotherapy is used if testing shows that the cancer is either ‘MMR deficient’ or ‘PD-L1 positive’. It can be used in combination with chemotherapy or as combination immunotherapy (ipi-nivo)

Advanced radiotherapy is a term used to describe the most cutting-edge machines in the world to deliver radiotherapy to cancer patients. Cromwell Hospital and The London Clinic, where Dr Andy Gaya is based, have a range of leading technologies in radiotherapy such as Gamma Knife Icon, Varian Edge, Cyberknife and MRIdian MR Linac

Dr Andy Gaya has his finger on the pulse of the newest cancer drugs and can also provide information about Clinical Trials and how to access the newest drugs that are being researched.

A holistic approach

Knowing the genetic profile of a tumour and having a personalised treatment plan can be hugely empowering. Dr Gaya will compliment this with guidance on other therapies which research has shown could help your overall quality of life and survival. Dr Gaya can advise on everything from exercise, probiotics to vitamins to supplements to wholefoods from his wealth of knowledge in the field.

A patient’s overall health is a strong indicator of how well they will respond to cancer treatment, so it is important to implement a healthy diet, lifestyle changes and activity or exercise regime.

Improving outcomes

When it comes to a cancer diagnosis, it’s important to have a big team of people around. From having family and friends rallying around the patient at home to having an excellent Clinical Oncologist driving cancer treatment in the hospital.

When a person with Stomach Cancer is treated by Dr Gaya, their case will be discussed at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting, which is made up of a panel of medical specialists. This includes other cancer doctors like surgeons and interventional radiologists and oncology nurses, as well as tapping into the unique knowledge of broader experts like physios, occupational therapists, psychiatrists, mental health specialists, dieticians, nutritionists and complementary therapists, as needed.

Having a range of experts input into cancer patient’s care is an optimal approach to treatment. Experts are based at Dr Gaya’s hospitals in London or, if more convenient, his team can recommend healthcare services local to the patient.

Follow up care

All anal cancer patients will have regular monitoring. Follow up visits will be frequent for the first two years and ‘surveillance’ every few years may continue with Dr Gaya or other healthcare professionals. Follow up care will likely involve physical exams, colonoscopies and imaging tests to check for recurrence.

Cancer and Lifestyle Changes

Patient Information