Stomach Cancer

At Mease Countryside Hospital, we offer an integrated care team comprised of board-certified medical oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, nurses, care coordinators and other highly trained individuals specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer. By providing the most advanced treatment technologies available with personalized, compassionate care, we are able to offer patients throughout the Tampa Bay area the benefits of both a neighborhood hospital and a nationally recognized cancer care facility.

Diagnostic Testing for Stomach Cancer in Safety Harbor, Florida

Also called gastric cancer, stomach cancer most often begins in the glandular cells of the stomach lining and can spread through the layers of the stomach to the lymph nodes. Individuals who smoke, are obese, or who have a family history of stomach cancer are at an increased risk of developing the condition. The following conditions may also make someone more likely to develop stomach cancer:

• Chronic stomach inflammation (gastritis)
• Stomach polyps
• Pernicious anemia
• Intestinal metaplasia

If you experience unexplained weight loss, chronic abdominal pain, abdominal bloating or difficulty swallowing, talk to your doctor about possible causes. He or she will likely recommend one or more of the following diagnostic tests to determine the cause of your symptoms:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
• Upper endoscopy
• Upper GI series

Treatments for Stomach Cancer at Mease Countryside Hospital

Treatment for stomach cancer at Mease Countryside Hospital may take several different forms. Your care team will determine the combination of treatments that will best suit your unique needs, taking into consideration your age and if/how far the stomach cancer has spread.

Nonsurgical treatments include chemotherapy (combination and systemic), monoclonal antibody therapy and targeted drug therapy. These may be recommended in conjunction with surgical therapy such as endoscopic mucosal resection, gastrojejunostomy, omentectomy, subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy.

For a referral to a board-certified oncologist, please call the BayCare Customer Service Center at (727) 462-7500 or find a specialist near you.