Chemotherapy is one of the methods of complex treatment of stomach cancer, which consists in the use of drugs that can destroy cancer cells and inhibit their growth. Chemotherapy can be carried out in such cases:
- If the operation is impossible or meaningless (the presence of extensive metastases, refusal of the patient from the operation, etc.), chemotherapy is performed to prolong the life of the patient and reduce the negative manifestations of the disease.
- Preoperative chemotherapy - is used to reduce the size of the tumor in order to facilitate its removal.
- Postoperative chemotherapy - appointed to prevent the return of the disease after removal of tumor tissue.
Chemotherapy regimens for gastric cancer
To treat stomach cancer, various treatment regimens are used with the use of combinations of chemotherapeutics. The choice of a particular treatment regimen is determined by the clinical picture and general condition of the patient, as well as by other factors. Experts are constantly in search of new combinations of drugs, trying to find the most effective treatment regimens. Here are some combinations of drugs used in chemotherapy for stomach cancer:
- epirubicin, cisplatin and fluorouracil (ECF scheme);
- epirubicin, cisplatin and capecitabine (ECX);
- epirubicin, oxaliplatin and capecitabine (EOX);
- mitomycin, cisplatin and capecitabine (MCX);
- 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, methotrexate (FEMTX), and others.
Drugs can be given in the form of injections, through infusomat, in the form of tablets. Treatment can last from 4 to 6 months, depending on the reaction of tumor cells to the drugs.
Nutrition for chemotherapy for stomach cancer
Proper nutrition in the treatment of stomach cancer plays an important role. Patients need a sufficient number of calories, vitamins, proteins and minerals. At the same time, compliance with the diet in this disease is complicated, as patients have reduced appetite and side effects of chemotherapy (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.).
The general recommendations for nutrition in this case are:
- take food in small portions at least 6 times a day;
- it is necessary to use liquid before and after meals;
- not recommended the use of sweets, juices, carbonated water.
The effectiveness of chemotherapy for gastric cancer
The effect of chemotherapy is different in different patients, and, on average, is 30-40%. This is largely due to the different biological activity of tumor cells. In some patients, chemotherapy does not lead to a decrease in the tumor. In this case, chemotherapy either stops, or another combination of drugs is prescribed.
In general, it is believed that this method of treatment can improve the quality of life and increase its duration.