As per all cancers, the earlier the stage of the cancer, the higher the chance of cure. In stomach cancer, it is no different.
If stomach cancer is in the early stages where there is no spread of cancer to the surrounding tissues or to distant sites, surgery offers the best chance of cure. An exception is when the cancer is detected in the very early stages where the cancer involvement is very shallow. In such very early stages, a curative option will include an endoscopic resection of the cancer.
When the cancer has spread to the regional lymph nodes, surgery is still a good option to be taken together with chemotherapy treatment.
When the disease has spread to the abdominal cavity or to distant sites, surgical resection is usually not the first choice. Unless complications arise such as uncontrollable bleeding from the cancer or when there is an obstruction to food passage or when there is an acute perforation, then surgery may be entertained. However, in such situations, the aim is not to achieve cure through surgery but mainly to manage the complications.
