Stomach Cancer Symptoms
Early stomach cancer is often silent or causes only mild indigestion, which is why
it is frequently found late. Symptoms to watch for include:
-
Persistent indigestion, heartburn or bloating that does not
settle
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Discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen
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Feeling full quickly when eating, and loss of appetite
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Unexplained weight loss
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Nausea, vomiting, or difficulty swallowing for tumours near
the food pipe
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Tiredness from anaemia, or blood in the stool in some cases
These symptoms usually have benign causes, but persistent indigestion with weight
loss, or difficulty swallowing, should always be investigated with an endoscopy.
Diagnosis and Staging
Accurate staging decides the treatment and avoids operating on cancer that has
already spread. Our Delhi centre uses:
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Endoscopy and biopsy: Visualises the tumour and confirms
the diagnosis
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CT and PET-CT: Assess tumour size, depth, lymph nodes and
distant spread
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Endoscopic ultrasound: Measures how deeply the tumour has
invaded the stomach wall
-
Staging laparoscopy: Detects peritoneal spread not visible
on scans before major surgery
Stomach Cancer Surgery Procedures and Names
Patients often ask about the stomach cancer surgery name for their
case. The main operations, and when each is used, are set out below.
| Surgery Name |
When It Is Used |
Procedure Details |
| Subtotal (Partial) Gastrectomy |
Tumours in the lower (distal) stomach |
Preserves part of the stomach for better digestion and nutrition
|
| Total Gastrectomy |
Tumours in the upper or middle stomach |
Removes the whole stomach; the food pipe is joined to the small
intestine through an esophagojejunostomy
|
| Minimally Invasive Gastrectomy |
Early gastric cancer and small GISTs |
Robotic or laparoscopic surgery with smaller incisions and faster
recovery of approximately 2 to 4 weeks
|
| D2 Lymphadenectomy |
All curative cases |
Removes lymph nodes around major vessels to improve staging and
survival
|
| GIST Resection |
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours |
Often performed using minimally invasive techniques while
preserving as much of the stomach as possible
|
| Palliative Surgery or Stenting |
Advanced tumours not suitable for curative surgery |
Gastrojejunostomy or stent placement to relieve obstruction or
bleeding
|
The Role of Chemotherapy and Radiation
Surgery is rarely the whole treatment for stomach cancer. Most patients also have
chemotherapy before and after surgery, known as perioperative chemotherapy, which
improves the chance of cure.
Radiation treatment for stomach cancer, or chemoradiation, is used
in selected cases. This may include treatment after surgery when the margins are
close or the lymph nodes are heavily involved. It may also be used as part of
palliative care to control bleeding or pain.
At our Delhi centre, these decisions are made jointly with medical and radiation
oncology at a tumour board. This ensures surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are
planned together rather than in isolation.
Stage 4 Stomach Cancer Treatment in Delhi
Stage 4 stomach cancer treatment focuses on controlling the
disease and relieving symptoms rather than cure, because the cancer has spread
beyond the stomach.
Systemic chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment, sometimes combined with
targeted therapy or immunotherapy depending on the tumour's biology. Palliative
surgery or stenting can relieve obstruction and bleeding and may significantly
improve comfort and quality of life.
Our team plans stage 4 care so that quality of life comes first.
Stomach Cancer Surgery Survival Rate
The stomach cancer surgery survival rate depends heavily on
the stage at which the cancer is found and treated.
For early-stage, stage 1 disease treated with curative gastrectomy and D2
lymphadenectomy, long-term survival is good, and many early-stage patients are
cured. Survival falls as the stage advances, which is why prompt diagnosis and
specialist, high-volume surgery matter so much.
Outcomes are consistently better at centres that perform D2 lymphadenectomy
routinely and treat a high volume of cases. Your surgeon will provide a
realistic, stage-specific estimate during the consultation.
Recovery and Life After Stomach Cancer Surgery
Understanding what to expect after stomach cancer surgery helps
with recovery. The stomach cancer surgery recovery time is
generally 2 to 4 weeks after minimally invasive robotic or laparoscopic surgery
and 6 to 8 weeks after open surgery.
Because the stomach is reduced or removed, eating habits change, and dedicated
nutrition support is essential.
-
Small, frequent, high-protein meals to adapt to a smaller or
absent stomach and help prevent dumping syndrome
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Avoiding large sugary meals that may trigger dumping syndrome
-
Vitamin B12 injections lifelong after total gastrectomy, plus
iron where needed
-
Gradual return to activity with a personalised nutrition and
recovery plan
Our Delhi centre provides customised meal plans and long-term nutritional
follow-up so patients can maintain their weight and strength after surgery.
Cost of Stomach Cancer Surgery in Delhi
The stomach cancer treatment cost in Delhi depends on the
operation, whether it is a subtotal or total gastrectomy, whether robotic
technology is used, the length of hospital and ICU stay, and whether
chemotherapy or radiation is needed alongside surgery.
Because every case is different, an exact quote is only meaningful after
staging.
Our Delhi team provides a clear, itemised and all-inclusive estimate before
any commitment, with no hidden charges. As a general guide, costs here are
typically 60 to 75 percent lower than equivalent treatment in the United
Kingdom, United States or Australia.
Contact the team for a personalised estimate based on your reports.
Choosing the Best Stomach Cancer Surgeon in Delhi
Stomach cancer surgery, and D2 lymphadenectomy in particular, is technically
demanding. Outcomes are strongly tied to how many cases the surgeon performs.
When choosing a stomach cancer doctor in Delhi, or searching for
the best stomach cancer surgeon in Delhi or the
best doctor for stomach cancer in Delhi, consider:
-
Case volume and D2 experience: Ask how many gastrectomies with
D2 lymphadenectomy the surgeon performs each year, as this predicts survival
-
Minimally invasive capability: A
stomach cancer specialist in Delhi who offers robotic,
laparoscopic and open surgery can match the surgical approach to the tumour
-
Multidisciplinary team: The best centres plan every case at a
tumour board with medical and radiation oncology
-
Nutrition support: Life after gastrectomy depends on expert
dietetic follow-up, not just the operation
Dr. Ashish George, Stomach Cancer Surgeon, Fortis Shalimar Bagh, Delhi
Dr. Ashish George
is among the leading stomach cancer surgeons in the region,
with more than 15 years of surgical oncology experience, 250 or more
gastrectomies and GIST resections, and expertise in robotic gastrectomy.
Patients searching for a doctor for stomach cancer or the
best doctor for stomach cancer are referred to his team from
across India and abroad.
As a high-volume stomach cancer hospital in Delhi, Fortis
Shalimar Bagh combines robotic and 3D surgical planning, intraoperative frozen
section to confirm clear margins, a full multidisciplinary tumour board, and
dedicated post-gastrectomy nutrition support.
For patients seeking the
best stomach cancer treatment in Delhi, this combination of
surgical skill and long-term support is what sets the centre apart. Patients
receive world-class care at costs far below Western equivalents.
International and Out-of-City Patients
Delhi is one of Asia's established destinations for stomach cancer surgery,
combining high case volume with costs typically 60 to 75 percent lower than
comparable procedures in the United Kingdom, United States or Australia.
For patients travelling to Dr. George's practice, support includes:
- Remote video consultation and imaging review before travel
-
Visa support letters for medical travel on confirmation of an appointment
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Coordination with the home oncologist for continuity of chemotherapy
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All-inclusive, transparent surgical packages with no hidden charges
