What is the prognosis (outlook)?

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Without treatment, a stomach cancer is likely get larger, and spread to other parts of the body. If it is diagnosed and treated at an early stage (before growing through the wall of the stomach or spreading to lymph nodes or other areas of the body) then there is a good chance of a cure with surgery. Unfortunately, most cases in the UK are not diagnosed at an early stage.

If the cancer is diagnosed when it has grown through the wall of the stomach, or spread to other parts of the body, a cure is less likely. However, treatment can often slow down the progression of the cancer.

The treatment of cancer is a developing area of medicine. New treatments continue to be developed and the information on outlook above is very general. The specialist who knows your case can give more accurate information about your particular outlook, and how well your type and stage of cancer is likely to respond to treatment.

Further help and information

Macmillan Cancer Support

Tel: 0808 800 1234 Web: www.macmillan.org.uk
They provide information and support to anyone affected by cancer.

Cancer Research UK.

Web: www.cancerhelp.org.uk provides facts about cancer including treatment choices.

Other support groups

See www.patient.co.uk/selfhelp.asp for a list of self help and support groups for cancer.

NICE - National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

Web: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/index.jsp?action=byTopic&o=7174
This link takes you to various guidelines relating to stomach cancer. Each guideline usually has a corresponding 'information for the public' to explain things in plain English.

References