The expert team at Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center can diagnose and treat all types of stomach cancer. Our stomach cancer experts will work with you to find the right treatment plan for your diagnosis.
As stomach cancer symptoms do not develop until advanced stages of the disease, your Banner MD Anderson doctor will need to perform tests to diagnose for cancer.
Before any imaging tests are completed, your doctor will perform a physical examination. This examination will also include questions about your medical history, family history and will determine if you have any risk factors.
A stomach cancer diagnosis usually begins with an imaging examination. You doctor may order an upper endoscopy or other imaging tests include CT scans or X-rays. If you imaging results are abnormal, you doctor may then order an exploratory surgery to look for signs of stomach cancer beyond the esophagus or stomach. Should you be diagnosed with stomach cancer, your doctor may order additional tests. These results can help identify treatment options that will be most effective for you.
If the imaging tests indicate that you may have stomach cancer, the goal is to remove all stomach cancer and some additional healthy tissue. The following procedures may be performed:
The expert team at Banner MD Anderson is dedicated to caring for you before, during and after diagnosis. We offer integrative oncology options to all our cancer patients to address all physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs.
If you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, your Banner MD Anderson doctor will try to determine if the cancer has spread and how far. This process is called staging and determines how much cancer is in the body, how serious the cancer is and how far it has spread. The following are the different stages of stomach cancer:
Stomach cancer affects everyone differently. Depending on your diagnosis, the stomach cancer specialists at Banner MD Anderson will determine your best course of action.
Due to the many different stages, your stomach cancer prognosis will determine your survival rate. These rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive after they were diagnosed. Keep in mind that survival rates are based on estimates and can’t predict what will happen. Your Banner MD Anderson specialist can provide more insight on how these numbers apply to you and your particular diagnosis.