Stomach (Gastric) Cancer

Our Approach

We will put together a team of healthcare professionals to provide the care you need. Our stomach cancer surgeons, gastroenterologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, genetic counselor, oncology navigator, oncology nutritionist, physical therapist, and other specialists are known for providing leading medical, surgical, and supportive care for people with gastric cancer. When planning your treatment, our physicians consider the type, location, and stage of your cancer, as well as your age and physical health. Your team meets regularly in multidisciplinary tumor boards to discuss your care and make sure you are receiving the most effective therapies. Our doctors are also on the digestive cancer care team at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

Stomach Cancer Symptoms

Stomach cancer is often found when it has already grown to an advanced stage, due to symptoms that may resemble other disorders. Asians and Pacific Islanders, many of whom live in Queens, have twice the rate of stomach cancer compared to the general population. If you have had any of these symptoms or you have a family history of stomach cancer, please see your primary care doctor for an exam and, if needed, a referral to our center. The earlier you are diagnosed, the better your chance of successful treatment.

• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain or discomfort in the stomach after eating
• Feeling full after eating small amounts
• Feeling tired for more than a few days or weeks
• Blood in the stool
• Yellowish eyes or skin

Gastric Cancer Diagnosis

We offer advanced technologies that may not be widely available elsewhere to diagnose stomach cancer and determine its stage.

Upper endoscopy

The doctor uses inserts a small tube with a camera at its tip into your stomach to look for abnormalities and take tissue samples for biopsy.

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) 

If stomach cancer is confirmed, this type of ultrasound can be used to help determine the tumor's size, see how deeply it has grown, and determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or nearby organs.

Imaging tests

High-resolution computed tomography (CT or CAT) scanning and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning are used to assess the cancer's size and development.

Stomach Cancer Surgery

If your stomach cancer is operable, we use a range of approaches to remove it, depending on the stage of the cancer. We offer endoscopic mucosal resection or dissection as well as surgical removal. Our gastric cancer surgeons are experienced in minimally invasive surgeries as well as traditional open surgeries.

You may have a subtotal or partial gastrectomy (removal of the part of the stomach containing the cancer) or a total gastrectomy (removal of the entire stomach and reconstruction to connect the esophagus to the small intestine) with lymph node removal.

Minimally invasive stomach cancer surgery

With laparoscopy or robotic gastrectomy, the surgeon operates through small incisions using specialized tools. This approach results in smaller incisions, less blood loss, less pain after surgery, a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker recovery. Our hospital has da Vinci Xi robots, allowing surgeons to operate through small incisions with greater magnification of the surgical field and more precision.

Lymph node removal

Our surgeons are experienced in modified D-2 lymphadenectomy. This technically challenging surgical procedure is performed during gastric cancer surgery to remove regional lymph nodes around the stomach and blood vessels to accurately sample them for potential cancer spread.

Stomach reconstruction

Stomach reconstruction is designed to help you maintain stomach function. If stomach surgery is an option for you, your surgeon will discuss your reconstruction options. We offer two major surgeries to reconstruct the stomach: Billroth II gastrojejunostomy and Roux-en-Y.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, given intravenously (by vein), may be used before surgery to shrink the size of a stomach tumor. It is also often used after surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back. You can receive chemotherapy in our Therapeutic Medicine Center.

Targeted Therapy

If you have a stomach cancer that makes too much of a protein called HER2, you may receive trastuzumab, which targets this protein. We may also check the genes in your tumor and in your blood for mutations that could be targeted with medications.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapies enhance the ability of the immune system to recognize, find, and attack cancer cells. Patients with advanced gastric cancer may receive nivolumab or pembrolizumab, which boost the power of the immune system against cancer. Our medical oncologists are very experienced using the latest immunotherapies and will let you know if this approach is part of your treatment plan. If you can have immunotherapy, you will receive it in our Therapeutic Medicine Center.

Radiation Therapy for Stomach Cancer

You may receive radiation therapy after stomach cancer surgery to reduce your risk of cancer recurrence or to relieve symptoms if your cancer is not operable. People who need radiation therapy for gastric cancer benefit from the advanced radiation oncology techniques available at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. You can receive radiation therapy in our state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology Center.

Clinical Trials for Gastric Cancer

At New York Presbyterian Queens, we participate in clinical trials with our fellow NewYork-Presbyterian centers to evaluate novel treatments to advance the care of people with stomach cancer, especially those whose disease does not respond well to standard therapies. You may have the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial of a promising treatment.