Screening and Diagnosis | Personalized Treatment | Research and Clinical Trials | Additional Patient Support
Cancers of the stomach, also called gastric cancer, develop from cells that form the lining of the innermost layer of the stomach (the mucosa) where stomach acid and digestive juices are made.
The experienced specialists at NorthShore Kellogg Cancer Center combine the most advanced scientific knowledge and technology with a comprehensive approach to care. They create a program of personalized medicine and patient-centered care for each individual diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Drawing from the diverse experience of physicians, surgeons, nurses, researchers and a host of other highly trained healthcare professionals, the Kellogg Cancer Center team is dedicated to putting patients—and families—at the center of a healthcare experience that delivers compassionate, collaborative care.
Patients who are newly diagnosed with stomach cancer have the added support of a specialized oncology nurse navigator to guide them through their diagnosis and treatment.
Stomach Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
Combined with a medical history and exam, stomach cancer is diagnosed and staged using various imaging technologies. The evaluation could include MRI, CT scan, endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound.
Tissue samples of suspicious tumors are removed and sent for diagnosis in NorthShore’s expert pathology lab. This on-site resource ensures that a majority of tests and novel diagnostics are completed in-house, providing swift results and allowing treatment to begin as early as possible. Genomic and molecular testing is included and helps to identify targets for therapy and to tailor treatment to each individual.
Personalized Stomach Cancer Treatment
Surgery is the most common stomach cancer treatment option. At NorthShore, our specially-trained GI surgeons perform leading-edge minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopy and robotics. The GI surgical team is highly skilled in advanced endoscopic techniques such as endoscopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection to treat early cancers of the stomach. Additionally, multimodal strategies combining surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used to ensure optimal outcomes for patients with stomach cancer.
Your multidisciplinary team meets regularly in a multidisciplinary conference to discuss your case in detail and to design a personalized stomach cancer treatment plan. For stomach cancer your team may include your medical oncologist, surgeon, gastroenterologist, radiation oncologist, oncology nurse, geneticist, pathologist, nutritionist, pharmacist, interventional radiologist, social worker and researchers. Because NorthShore focuses on early stomach cancer diagnosis, our medical genetics team is an important collaborator in treating patients with stomach cancer.
NorthShore’s Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy Program, brings additional specialized expertise to our patients. This sophisticated technology is becoming more important in helping to diagnose, precisely stage and treat benign and malignant tumors in the GI tract.
Research and Clinical Trials
For patients diagnosed with stomach cancer, a vital research enterprise allows Kellogg patients access to the latest drugs and treatment options, as well as a wide array of clinical trials.
Our extensive tumor bank supports both tumor profiling and the effort by NorthShore’s Center for Molecular Medicine to develop an early warning system for this often deadly disease.
Additional Patient Support
Kellogg Cancer Center’s unique services and resources assist patients and family members with a variety of challenges they may face from diagnosis, treatment and beyond. A wide array of support services are available to patients that include our integrative medicine services, financial advocacy and survivorship, to name a few.
For More Information
For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, please call 847.570.2112.