Procedure
Radiotherapy can also be used if the stomach cancer is too advanced to be operated on or has already spread: radiotherapy can then prevent or alleviate symptoms caused by metastases, e.g. in the brain or bones(palliative radiotherapy).
Radiation therapy is performed as an outpatient treatment, is non-invasive (i.e. does not require anesthesia) and can thus be easily integrated into everyday private and professional life. Depending on the extent of the tumor, radiotherapy can be carried out in one or a few treatment sessions as radiosurgery for small tumor foci, or as fractionated treatment over several weeks for larger tumors. Radiotherapy is often combined with chemotherapy to improve its effectiveness. Close and personal support is a matter of course for us.
The Department of Radiation Oncology at the USZ uses only the most modern techniques for precise radiation treatment of lung cancer with few side effects. You will be looked after by proven experts in the treatment of stomach cancer.
For many patients, we are already offering the treatment of tomorrow: in clinical trials, we are continuously working on improving the treatment of gastric cancer to make it even more effective and tolerable. To the overview of currently open studies.
In the following, we will describe radiotherapy for the different types and stages of stomach cancer.
Advanced stage of gastric cancer with lymph node metastases
In principle, surgical removal of the tumor with chemotherapy a few months before and after the operation is the treatment of first choice for fit patients. Sometimes, however, a microscopic tumor residue remains in the abdominal cavity after the operation. In older patients in particular, and in the presence of underlying diseases, e.g. heart disease, which prohibit suitable follow-up treatment with intensive chemotherapy, so-called adjuvant radiotherapy, i.e. radiotherapy after the operation, can be used. Due to the often extensive surgical area that is re-irradiated, the irradiation is divided into many small “portions”: the therapy is fractionated over about 30 treatment sessions per working day over a period of about 6 weeks. Spreading the radiation treatment over several weeks improves the tolerability of the treatment, which is mainly carried out on an outpatient basis and can be easily integrated into the patient’s private and professional life.
It goes without saying that patients receive close medical care during this time in order to provide the best possible support for illness-related nutritional problems and complaints. In very advanced stages that cannot be operated on, a short series of radiotherapy with 5 sessions can alleviate symptoms such as bleeding or pain and help to maintain quality of life.
The radiotherapy of gastrointestinal tumors such as stomach cancer is a clinical focus of our clinic. We pass on our knowledge in a large number of international courses and congresses. We are active in guideline commissions and international quality assurance committees in studies. State-of-the-art equipment and experienced medical physicists and MTRAs contribute to treatment of optimum quality and safety. At the same time, we work closely with our colleagues in Surgery and Medical Oncology to guarantee “one-stop” treatment and offer interdisciplinary consultation hours.
In clinical trials, we are continuously trying to improve the treatment of gastric cancer in order to make it even more effective and tolerable. To the overview of currently open studies.
Metastases of stomach cancer, e.g. in the brain or bones
Stomach cancer is an aggressive type of cancer that often forms metastases during the course of the disease: this is called metastasis. Common sites of metastasis are the lung, adrenal gland, bones, liver or brain. Radiotherapy is a highly effective method with few side effects to prevent or treat symptoms caused by metastases. This is usually done in combination with chemotherapy, immunotherapy or other targeted therapy. The smaller the metastases are and the earlier they are irradiated, the better the results. Today, metastases in the body can be treated in a focused manner in just a few effective radiation sessions.
For tumor foci in the abdominal area, e.g. liver or upper abdomen, we carry out body stereotactic radiotherapy (SBRT) on our MRI hybrid accelerator. State-of-the-art radiation technology is combined with MRI images. The radiation is thus carried out under MRI monitoring of the tumor, so that the highest precision is combined with the best imaging. Our clinic was the first in Switzerland to introduce this technology back in 2019. We are still the only clinic in German-speaking Switzerland to offer the highest level of expertise in this field.
Today, brain metastases are treated at our center in most patients by means of a single high-dose radiation treatment: this is called radiosurgery. Metastases at other locations in the body can now also be treated in a focused manner in just a few effective radiation sessions. Metastatic gastric cancer is a clinical and scientific focus of our clinic. We pass on our knowledge in a large number of international courses and congresses. We are active as international experts in guideline commissions.
State-of-the-art equipment and experienced medical physicists and MTRAs contribute to treatment of optimum quality and safety. At the same time, we work closely with our colleagues in medical oncology to guarantee “one-stop” treatment. We also consult with our colleagues in palliative medicine at an early stage.
In clinical trials, we are continuously trying to improve the treatment of gastric cancer in order to make it even more effective and tolerable. To the overview of currently open studies.