The most severe and metastatic stage of stomach cancer is stage 4. Being an advanced stage, stomach cancer stage 4 is identified as the last stage of cancer. It happens when cancerous cells have moved from the stomach to other nearby tissues or organs, such as the lungs or the liver. Stage 4 cancer is characterized by metastasis, which is defined as cancer spreading to other organs.
Doctors categorize an initial tumor as stage 4 when it grows to any distant region, even if it hasn’t grown into the stomach wall’s lower layers or spread to surrounding lymph nodes.
Stomach Cancer Stage 4 Symptoms
Individuals may experience the following stage 4 stomach cancer symptoms:
- Vomiting,
- Blood in the stool,
- Inadvertent weight loss
- Intense abdominal ache
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, can occur.
- Accumulation of fluids in the belly, known as ascites,
- Swallowing and feeding difficulties
People may also develop additional stomach cancer stage 4 symptoms including breathing difficulties or bone pain, depending upon the location of spread of disease.
Stomach Cancer Survival Rate
Right now, the overall survival rate in five years for stomach cancer is 33.1%. This implies that one out of every three people receiving treatment for stomach cancer may survive for a minimum of five years after being identified.
For stage 4 cancer, there’s no 5-year survival data available. This happens because, regrettably, the majority of patients do not survive long following diagnosis. According to statistics, patients with stage 4 stomach cancer had a 1-year survival rate.
(Remember that this does not imply that you will only survive for a year. It has to do with how many persons with cancer are still alive a year following receiving their diagnosis).
Twenty per cent or less out of every 100 patients with stage 4 stomach cancer will live with their disease for a year or more after receiving their diagnosis. Nevertheless, many people survive far longer than this; the stomach cancer survival rate is only a snapshot of the chances.
What Impacts Survival?
The stage of cancer at diagnosis determines your prognosis. This refers to its size and potential for spreading. Your prognosis may also be impacted by the type and grade of cancer. Grade is an optional measure of the abnormalities in the cells.
The survival rate for stomach cancer is also impacted by various health issues and your overall level of fitness. Treatment options may be impacted by health issues. Additionally, being generally fit may make it easier for you to handle your disease and its treatment.
Is Stomach Cancer Curable?
Treatment for stomach cancer that is in its early stages usually involves chemo, radiation and surgery. Advanced stages, meanwhile, could provide more difficulties. Since surgery is no longer an option for treating stage 4 stomach cancer, doctors find it challenging to treat the disease. Rather, the goals of treatment are to improve quality of life, manage and stop the development of tumors, and relieve pain and additional symptoms.
Even while there are exceptions to a full recovery in more severe situations, continual developments in medical therapies and treatments strive to improve results and elevate the standard of life.
Treatment
Treatments for stage 4 stomach cancer focus on symptom relief and cancer management because the disease is tough to treat.
Chemotherapy is one tool that doctors may employ to stop cancer from spreading. If the patient’s condition permits, they could additionally suggest radiation or immunotherapy.
Physicians may recommend palliative surgery, like a gastric bypass, to reduce discomfort, trouble eating, or additional indicators if a patient suffers intestinal obstructions or bleeding.
Additionally, endoscopic techniques could be employed in place of open surgery. This entails inserting a lengthy, flexible tube into the stomach through the neck. Furthermore, a person may require a feeding tube since stomach cancer can result in eating disorders. This little tube provides nutrients and hydration straight to the stomach, throat, and nose.
Conclusion
Stage 4 stomach cancer is the last stage of cancer that has spread to other bodily organs. This stage of cancer is challenging to cure, thus the emphasis of treatment is on treating symptoms and limiting the disease’s consequences.
Still wondering – is stomach cancer curable? Looking for more insights and expert guidance on stomach cancer, then contact Dr. Vikram Shah Batra of The Urethra Clinic for specialist care. Schedule a consultation right away for knowledgeable and personalized cancer care. Your well-being is our priority.
