For stomach cancer that has not spread, surgery is the central part of treatment, usually combined with drug treatment. Before the operation patients want to know how much of the stomach will be removed, what recovery is like and how they will eat afterwards. New City Clinic sets out the general answers here; your own plan is made by the tumour board after endoscopy, biopsy and imaging have been assessed.
Partial or total removal of the stomach?
This depends mainly on where the tumour sits. For tumours in the lower part of the stomach, removing the lower two thirds is often enough and the remaining stomach is joined to the small intestine. Tumours in the upper or middle part, or those that are spread widely, may require removal of the whole stomach; the oesophagus is then joined directly to the small intestine. In both operations the surrounding lymph nodes are removed as well.
Why is chemotherapy often given before surgery?
In many patients with locally advanced disease, drug treatment is given for some weeks before the operation and continued afterwards. The aim is to shrink the tumour and treat cells that imaging cannot show. Where needed, a diagnostic laparoscopy is done first to check the abdominal lining. Very early tumours in selected patients can sometimes be removed endoscopically, without an operation. The tumour board decides which pathway applies.
The operation and the hospital stay
Depending on the tumour and the surgeon’s assessment, the operation is done by keyhole or open surgery. You are helped to walk early, and drinking and eating are restarted step by step. If recovery is uneventful, the hospital stay is usually around one to two weeks. The pathology result arrives within one to two weeks and is used to plan further treatment. Your surgeon tells you when it is safe to fly home.
Eating after stomach surgery
With a smaller stomach, or none, you feel full quickly. Six to eight small meals a day, chewing well and drinking between rather than with meals make eating easier. Sweet foods may cause dizziness or cramps shortly after eating (dumping), which usually improves with dietary changes. After total removal, vitamin B12 is given by injection for life, and iron and other supplements may be needed. A dietitian follows your weight, and most patients adapt over time.
Stomach cancer surgery with New City Clinic
New City Clinic is an authorised health tourism intermediary registered with the Turkish Ministry of Health and HealthTürkiye. When you contact New City Clinic about stomach cancer surgery, a physician first reviews your photos and medical information, and you then receive a written treatment plan with an itemised quote. Once you arrive in Istanbul, the New City Clinic team organises your airport welcome, accommodation, hospital appointments and interpreting. Your procedure is performed by a specialist physician at a Ministry of Health approved partner hospital, and follow-up continues after you return home.
Aftercare
Medication and check-ups
Take the medication your physician prescribes as directed and attend your planned check-ups.
Smoking and alcohol
Both slow healing; avoid them before and after the procedure for the period your physician advises.
Movement and rest
Short walks support circulation; wait for your physician’s approval before strenuous exercise or heavy lifting.
When to get in touch
Contact your New City Clinic coordinator straight away in case of high fever, increasing pain, redness or anything unexpected.
Frequently asked questions
Can a person live without a stomach?
Yes. Digestion continues in the small intestine. Eating habits change and supplements such as vitamin B12 are needed, but most patients adapt.
How long will I need to stay in Istanbul?
Plan for the hospital stay and the first check-up. If drug treatment before surgery is recommended, part of it can often be given in your own country.
Which documents should I send?
The endoscopy and pathology reports, CT images and reports, blood tests and a list of your medication.
Deciding on stomach cancer surgery is a confident step when it is taken with the right information and the right team. You can book a free consultation with the New City Clinic team for your questions.
This article is for general information; consult your physician for diagnosis and treatment.