Stomach Tumours and Cancers.
Stomach tumours range from benign to malignant. Gastric cancer is uncommon in Australia but is a serious diagnosis requiring prompt, coordinated assessment and treatment.
Growths within the stomach: from incidental findings to serious diagnoses.
Cancers and tumours of the stomach can be malignant (cancerous and potentially serious) or benign (not cancerous, although some still need monitoring or treatment). The terms cancer, tumour, growth, lesion and malignancy are often used interchangeably. If you have received any of these terms as part of your diagnosis, it is important to clarify with your doctor exactly what has been found and what it means.
Gastric cancers are uncommon in Australia, but they are a serious diagnosis. Early assessment and a coordinated treatment approach significantly improve outcomes. Many gastric tumours are best treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Important
If a growth has been found in your stomach on imaging or gastroscopy, please contact us so an early surgical consultation can be arranged and next steps discussed.
Symptoms of stomach tumours.
Small stomach tumours often cause no symptoms and may be discovered incidentally during investigations for other reasons. As they enlarge, patients may experience:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Loss of appetite
- Increased feeling of fullness after small meals
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea
- Vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Dark or tarry stools (indicating bleeding)
- Fatigue or anaemia
Any combination of unexplained weight loss, feeling full after only a small amount of food, persistent abdominal pain or vomiting with blood warrants prompt medical assessment.
Investigating a suspected stomach tumour.
Gastroscopy and biopsy
A camera is passed through the mouth to directly visualise the stomach. If an abnormal area is identified, a tissue biopsy is taken during the same procedure to determine whether the growth is benign or malignant.
CT scan
Used to assess the extent of the tumour, its relationship to surrounding structures and whether disease has spread to lymph nodes or distant sites. This is the standard way of determining how extensive a gastric cancer is (staging).
PET scan
May be used alongside CT to detect metabolically active disease at distant sites as part of the staging workup.
Endoscopic ultrasound
Assesses how deeply the tumour has grown into the stomach wall and whether nearby lymph nodes are involved, helping guide the treatment plan.
Treatment depends on the type, stage and location of the tumour.
Endoscopic removal
Small, superficial benign growths or very early-stage cancers may be removed during gastroscopy, avoiding the need for major surgery.
Gastrectomy
Partial or total surgical removal of the stomach. The extent of resection depends on the location and stage of the tumour. Surgery is performed as part of a coordinated plan that may include chemotherapy before and after the procedure.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Many gastric cancers are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of both. This may be given before surgery to reduce the tumour size, or after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.
Multidisciplinary coordination
Gastric cancer management involves input from surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and gastroenterologists. Your Meridian surgical team coordinates across all relevant specialties throughout treatment and follow-up.
Stomach tumour assessment and surgery are managed within the Upper GI & Surgical Care pathway. Patients proceeding to surgery complete the Meridian Foundation Program, our structured preparation phase that optimises health, nutrition, understanding and readiness before the operation. Referrals from GPs and specialists are welcomed. Self-referral is also appropriate.