Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells.
Learn more about:
When chemotherapy is used
For stomach cancer, chemotherapy is used:
- before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) – to shrink large tumours and destroy any cancer cells that may have spread
- after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) – to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back
- as palliative treatment – to help control the cancer and improve quality of life and prolong overall survival.
How it is given
Chemotherapy is usually given by injecting the drug into a vein in the arm. It may also be given through a tube that is implanted and stays in your vein throughout treatment (called a port-a-cath or PICC line), or as tablets you swallow. You will usually receive treatment as an outpatient.
Most people have a combination of chemotherapy drugs over several treatment sessions, with rest periods of 2–3 weeks in-between. Together, the session and rest period are called a cycle. Your doctor will talk to you about how long your treatment will last.
Side effects of chemotherapy
The side effects of chemotherapy vary greatly for each person. Some people have few side effects, while others have many. Most side effects are temporary, but some may last longer or be ongoing. Your medical oncologist or nurse will discuss the likely side effects with you, including how they can be prevented or controlled with medicine.
Side effects may include:
- feeling sick (nausea)
- vomiting
- sore mouth or mouth ulcers
- appetite changes and difficulty swallowing
- skin and nail changes
- numbness in the hands or feet
- ringing in the ears or hearing loss
- constipation or diarrhoea
- hair loss or thinning
- you may also be more likely to catch infections.
I found it really beneficial to participate in a clinical trial looking at what combination of treatment worked best for stomach cancer. The treatment path I trialled was preoperative chemotherapy, a total gastrectomy, and postoperative chemotherapy.”
Pete
→ READ MORE: Targeted therapy for stomach cancer
Video: What is chemotherapy?
Watch this short video to learn more about chemotherapy.
Dr Spiro Raftopoulos, Gastroenterologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Peter Blyth, Consumer; Jeff Bull, Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Nurse Consultant, Cancer Services, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Mick Daws, Consumer; Dr Steven Leibman, Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW; Prof Michael Michael, Medical Oncologist, Lower and Upper Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, and Co-Chair Neuroendocrine Unit, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Dr Andrew Oar, Radiation Oncologist, Icon Cancer Centre, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Rose Rocca, Senior Clinical Dietitian: Upper Gastrointestinal, Nutrition and Speech Pathology Department, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC; Letchemi Valautha, Consumer; Lesley Woods, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council WA.
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