‘Combination of therapies most effective to manage stomach cancer’

Nagpur: There are different medical solutions like chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and immunotherapy are available to treat gastrointestinal (GI) cancers commonly known as stomach cancers. However, patient selection and best combination of these therapies according to the level of cancer growth is the key of success.

Specialists of GI cancers from different cities discussed these issues in a GI cancer update CME held at RST cancer hospital on Sunday. This CME was jointly organized in collaboration with Indian Medical Association (IMA) Nagpur branch and HCG NCHRI Cancer Centre.

“Concept of cancer treatment is changing globally. Surgeons, physicians, radiation oncologists are working with inter-disciplinary approach. With minimal invasive surgery options and advanced diagnostic machines, the cancer treatment will see complete change in next decade,” said Dr Subrajit Dasgupta, Organizing chairman of the conference and Director of RST Cancer Institute. This conference was organized to share latest developments in the field of GI cancer.

“For the convenience of participants, we conducted the event in three different sessions. Cancers of oesophagus (food pipe), small intestine and large intestine were discussed in three separate sessions. Faculty and experts from different cities shared their experiences and case studies,” said Dr B K Sharma Joint director of the RST Hospital.

During the daylong event, experts discussed various treatment options on GI cancers. Treatment options like endoscopic resection for very early cancers, subtotal or partial gastrectomy, total gastrectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, palliative surgery, and immunotherapy were discussed. Experts concluded that the perfect combination of these treatment options will ensure better quality of life for a patient. All of them agreed that early detection of cancer plays the most important role in deciding the treatment.