Stomach Cancer
Around 3500 Australians get upper gastro intestinal (UGI) cancer every year. UGI cancers include cancers of the oesophagus and stomach. Stomach cancer is also called gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer happens when cells in the lining of the stomach grow quickly and out of control forming a tumour. Sometimes there are no signs of this.
These gastric cancer cells can spread into other parts of the body. These secondary tumours are called metastases. Gastric cancers that have spread are hard to cure.
Radiation Therapy and Gastric Cancer
The best person to talk to about radiation therapy for gastric cancer is a radiation oncologist. A radiation oncologist is a specialist doctor who is part of the team that takes care of people having radiation therapy.
You can ask your doctor for a referral to a radiation oncologist to learn if radiation therapy is an option for you.
The Treatment Team
Doctors make a treatment plan for each person based on:
- the type of cancer
- where the cancer is
- other treatments tried
- the person’s health.
The type of treatment a person gets is worked out by a team of doctors and health professionals often called a Multidisciplinary Team.
A highly trained radiation oncology team takes care of people having radiation therapy. This includes radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, medical physicists and radiation oncology nurses.
Treatments for Gastric Cancer
If doctors find the cancer very early, then surgery may be the only thing needed to treat the cancer.
If the cancer is more advanced, doctors may use drug treatment, radiation therapy and surgery.
If surgery is not an option, doctors use drug treatments, with or without radiation therapy, to slow the cancer down, reduce bleeding and stop it spreading.
Types of Radiation Therapy Used in Gastric Cancer
Radiation therapy is the best treatment for people having trouble swallowing. It’s also helpful for people who can’t have other treatments and for those who have cancer that has spread.
Palliative radiation therapy is also good for managing bleeding from tumours.
External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) is the most common type of radiation therapy used in gastric cancer.
The radiation oncology team uses a machine called a linear accelerator (or LINAC) to deliver external beam radiation therapy.
Radiation oncologists often use Volumetric Arc Therapy (VMAT) or stereotactic radiotherapy which are advanced types of External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), to carefully deliver radiation to the areas that need to be treated.
During radiation therapy people lie flat and still on the treatment couch while the LINAC machine moves around them.
People are sometimes asked not to eat before treatment so the stomach is the same size and in the same place each day.
People usually get radiation treatment once a day, 5 days a week from Monday to Friday. The length of treatment for gastric cancer can vary and your radiation oncologist will decide this.
General Side Effects of Radiation Therapy on Gastric Cancer
Radiation therapy is more effective with fewer side effects than ever before.
Recent advances mean radiation oncologists can effectively treat the cancer while getting less radiation on healthy body parts. This means much fewer side effects.
Side effects from radiation therapy vary between people, even for those having the same treatment.
While some people feel no side effects, some feel mild side effects, such as tiredness or skin redness during and/or just after treatment. These usually get better within a few weeks.
The treatment team will offer advice and medicine to help with side effects.
Serious side effects that start later (months to years after the radiation therapy) are rare.
Before starting treatment, your radiation oncologist will talk to you about side effects and answer your questions.
The side effects of radiation treatment can be split into 2 groups:
- Early side effects which occur during and shortly after radiation treatment.
- Late side effects which can occur months to years after radiation treatment.
For more information, go to the Potential Side Effects page.
Early Side Effects of Radiation Therapy on Gastric Cancer
People having radiation therapy for gastric cancer usually only feel side effects in the treated area. These side effects usually stop around 6 weeks after treatment ends.
Swelling of the oesophagus: This can cause pain and trouble swallowing but is easily treated with liquid pain killers.
Nutrition: People who struggle to eat because of the tumour or treatment may need a feeding tube.
Nausea/vomiting and reduced appetite: This is common if the treatment is in the lower chest or upper stomach. The doctor may offer anti-sickness medications to help.
Breathing problems, cough and skin irritation: Some people have these side effects.
Fatigue: This is very common and often gets better within 6 weeks, though it may last longer for some.
During radiation treatment doctors encourage people to do gentle exercise and rest when they need to.
Late Side Effects of Radiation Therapy on Gastric Cancer
Late side effects vary between people and can happen a few months to a few years after treatment.
These side effects may never occur, occur once, continue over time, or come and go.
Spinal cord damage: This is very rare and may cause tingling. Radiation oncologists take care to keep the radiation dose to the spinal cord very low.
Second cancer: Cancers caused by radiation therapy are a very rare side effect.
Other Useful Resources for Gastric Cancer
Find additional information about cancer types, research groups, and support groups.
Radiation Oncologist
The best person to talk to is a radiation oncologist. You can ask your doctor for a referral to find out if radiation treatment is right for you.
GPs and Health Professionals
Information for any health professional involved in a patient's cancer care with a particular focus on primary care providers.
Talking to Your Doctor
Your GP or other doctors in the cancer team can organise a referral to a radiation oncologist.
Treatment Centres
Search and find your closest Radiation Oncology Treatment Centre.
