Stomach cancer treatment with chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is considered among the most effective treatment methods for stomach cancer. It is also practical for distant metastases and often becomes a part of combined therapy. In addition, chemotherapy is also often used as a treatment that must help decrease the stage of stomach cancer and get patients ready for surgery. Nowadays, more than 20 medications with a response rate of up to 45% are used to treat stomach cancer. Oncologists use various chemotherapy medications that can be delivered via intravenous injections, oral forms, and other methods. Still, the most popular way for chemotherapy is intravenous infusions. A single procedure might take up to a few hours, as medication must be delivered slowly to avoid excessive vascular damage. After the process, patients must remain in the hospital for at least half an hour to ensure they are in good condition to return home. A patient might require up to 8 courses of chemotherapy before getting desired results. Then, the physician uses additional lab tests and medical imaging procedures to evaluate treatment efficiency. Usually, patients get at least a few weeks between chemotherapy courses to get rest and renew after treatment sessions.