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
How it is given
Chemotherapy drugs are usually given as a liquid through a drip inserted into a vein (intravenous
infusion). Sometimes, a small tube is placed in a vein and stays there during treatment. This is
called a central venous access device (CVAD).
You will usually have treatment as an outpatient (when you visit hospital for treatment but are not
admitted). Sometimes, chemotherapy is given as tablets you can take at home.
Most people have a combination of chemotherapy drugs over several sessions, with rest periods of
2–3 weeks in between. Together, the session and rest period are called a cycle.
Learn more about chemotherapy.
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
- appetite changes and difficulty swallowing
- sore mouth or mouth ulcers
- skin and nail changes
- numbness in the hands or feet
- ringing in the ears or hearing loss
- constipation or diarrhoea
- hair loss or thinning
- being more likely to catch infections
If you feel unwell or have a temperature of 38°C or higher, seek urgent medical attention.
Before chemotherapy begins, your doctor, pharmacist or nurse will talk to you about the side effects to watch out for or report, how to help prevent or manage them, and who to contact after hours if you need urgent help.
Find information on chemotherapy in Arabic, Greek, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese.
→ READ MORE: Targeted therapy for stomach cancer
Video: What is chemotherapy?
Watch this video to learn more about chemotherapy (Open Settings 
to turn on auto-generated subtitles in your language).
Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions
Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer
More resources
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Brett Hall, Consumer; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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