Stomach Cancer
Treatment in Malaysia
At Onco Life Centre, our team takes a personalized approach to treating stomach cancer. We focus not only on treating the disease, but also on supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our patients every step of the way.
Stomach cancer, also referred to as gastric cancer, begins in the mucus-producing cells on the inside lining of the stomach (adenocarcinoma). Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of stomach cancer. Gastric cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the world.
Why Choose Onco Life Centre?
Expertise You Can Trust, Innovation You Can Count On
Over 20 Years of
Experience
Our highly-qualified consultant oncologists boast extensive experience treating a vast array of cancers. Their training at prestigious institutions in Australia and the UK ensures exceptional expertise that you can trust.
Collaboration with
Leading Genomics Experts
For complex cases, our oncologists collaborate with leading genomics specialists in the US. This ensures access to the latest treatments for all cancer types.
Unmatched
patient experience
You and your healthcare experience are at the centre of what we do at Onco Life Centre. Our core values of Empathy, Dedication, Professionalism and Service Quality have driven us since our earliest days.
Treatment Methods
Talk to our stomach cancer oncologists at Onco Life Centre about your treatment options. Treatment recommendations by our oncologists at Onco Life Centre are tailored and personalized and depends on stage of stomach cancer, genetic changes in the tumor, and the patient’s preferences and overall health. There are successful new treatments for stomach cancer as the landscape of drug research and development in stomach cancer has evolved tremendously over the last 5 years.
Surgery is often part of the treatment for stomach cancer if it can be done. Depending on the type and stage of your cancer, surgery might be used to remove the cancer and part or all of your stomach. Surgery (often along with other treatments) offers the only real chance to cure stomach cancer. Even if the cancer is too widespread to be completely removed, an operation could help prevent bleeding from the tumor or keep the stomach from being blocked. This type of surgery is known as palliative surgery.
The 3 main types of surgery for stomach cancer.
Endoscopic resection
In this operation, the cancer is removed through an endoscope and can be done only for some very early cancers where the chance of spread is very low.
Partial gastrectomy
With this approach only part of the stomach is removed, sometimes along with part of the esophagus or the first part of the small intestine. This may be an option if the cancer is only in the lower part of the stomach close to the intestines.
Total gastrectomy
In this operation, the surgeon removes all of the stomach, nearby lymph nodes and sometimes the spleen, parts of the esophagus, intestines, pancreas, and other nearby organs. This may be an option if the cancer is only in the upper part of the stomach or if the cancer has spread throughout the stomach.
Chemotherapy for gastric cancer can be given before surgery to shrink the tumor and make it easier to completely remove it. Chemo for stomach cancer may also be given, often along with radiation, after surgery to kill any groups of cancer cells that may have been left behind but are too small to be seen. The goal is to keep the cancer from coming back.
Chemo may also be used as the main treatment for stomach cancer that has spread to distant organs (metastatic stomach cancer or stage 4 stomach cancer), to relieve cancer related symptons as well as to prolong patient survival.
Targeted therapy for stomach cancer targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. This type of treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells. To find the most effective treatment, our stomach cancer specialists will run tumor profiling tests to identify the genes, proteins, and other factors in your tumor.
HER2-targeted therapy
Some cancers may make too much of a protein called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). If your stomach cancer cells overexpress HER2 protein, HER2-targeted therapy with chemo can prolong the lives of patients with advanced stomach cancer (metastatic gastric cancer).
Anti-angiogenesis therapy
Anti-angiogenesis therapy is focused on stopping angiogenesis, which is the process of making new blood vessels. Because a tumor needs the nutrients delivered by blood vessels to grow and spread, the goal of anti-angiogenesis therapies is to “starve” the tumor.
Please click here to learn more about Targeted Therapy
Immunotherapy for gastric cancer is designed to boost your body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer. The PD-1 pathway is critical in the immune system’s ability to control cancer growth. PD-1 and PD-L1 antibodies block this pathway and can stop the growth of stomach cancer. Immunotherapy for stage 4 stomach cancer can result in a favorable outcome for patients with PD-L1 positive or MSI-H disease.
Please click here to learn more about Immunotherapy
Before surgery, radiation can be used along with chemo to try to shrink some tumors to make surgery easier. After surgery, radiation can be used to kill very small areas of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Radiation, especially when combined with chemotherapy (chemo), might delay or prevent the cancer from coming back after surgery and may help people to live longer. Radiation can also be used to slow the growth and ease symptoms of advanced stomach cancer such as pain, bleeding, and trouble eating.
Treatment By Stage
In general, stages 0, 1, 2 and 3 colorectal cancer are often curable with surgery. However, many patients with stage 3 colorectal cancer, and some with stage 2, receive chemotherapy after surgery to increase the chance of eliminating the disease. Patients with stage 2 and 3 rectal cancer will also receive radiation therapy with chemotherapy either before or after surgery.
Stage 0 colorectal cancer
The usual treatment is a polypectomy, or removal of a polyp, during a colonoscopy.
Stage 1 colorectal cancer
The usual treatment is a polypectomy, or removal of a polyp, during a colonoscopy.
Stage 2 colorectal cancer
Surgery is often the first treatment. Patients with stage 2 colorectal cancer can talk to our oncologists at Onco Life Centre about whether adjuvant chemotherapy is needed after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. For patients with stage 2 rectal cancer, radiation therapy is usually given in combination with chemotherapy, either before or after surgery.
Stage 3 colorectal cancer
Treatment for stage 3 colon cancer usually involves surgical removal of the tumor followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. For patients with rectal cancer, radiation therapy may be used along with chemotherapy before or after surgery, along with adjuvant chemotherapy.
Metastatic (stage 4) colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer can spread to distant organs, such as the liver, lungs, the tissue called the peritoneum that lines the abdomen, or a woman’s ovaries. Our oncologists at Onco Life Centre will help you tailor your treatment plan, which may include a combination of surgery, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. If the colorectal cancer has spread only to the liver (colorectal cancer liver metastasis) and if surgery is possible either before or after chemotherapy, there is a chance of complete cure. Even when curing the cancer is not possible, surgery may add months or even years to a person’s life. Determining who can benefit from surgery for cancer that has spread to the liver is often a complicated process that involves doctors of multiple specialties working together to plan the best treatment option. The role of immunotherapy for advanced colon cancer treatment has been promising. Using immuntherapy in patients with mismatch-repair-deficient mutations or microsatellite instability in their tumors has shown remarkable results. An immunue-checkpoint inhibitor can be used on its own, or in combination with CTLA4 inhibitor for such patients.
Transparency You Can Trust
At Onco Life Centre, we understand the financial burden associated with Stomach cancer treatment. We are committed to transparency and will provide you with a personalized cost estimate during your initial consultation. Here is an estimate:
Chemotherapy:
At Onco Life Centre, the cost for treating Stomach Cancer using targeted therapy for most of our patients is about MYR5,000 per cycle.
Targeted Therapy:
Stomach cancer Targeted Therapy can cost from MYR6,000, depending on the specific type of targeted therapy drug used.
Immunotherapy
The cost of stomach cancer immunotherapy can range from MYR10,000 and above depending on the specific type and dosage of immunotherapy drug used.
Prevention of gastric cancer
There is no sure way to prevent stomach cancer, but there are things you can do that might lower your risk.
Diet, body weight, and exercise
To help reduce your risk, avoid a diet that is high in smoked and pickled foods and salted meats and fish. The American Cancer Society recommends an emphasis on plant foods and whole grains. Being overweight or obese may add to the risk of stomach cancer. On the other hand, being physically active may help lower your risk. Aside from possible effects on the risk of stomach cancer, losing weight may also have an impact on the risk of some other cancers and health problems.
Inherited stomach cancers
A small percentage of stomach cancers are caused by an inherited genetic condition called hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome. Most people who have inherited the gene for this condition will get stomach cancer at some point in their lives. If you have a strong family history of stomach cancer, our oncologists at Onco Life Centre can help you get genetic counseling and testing to see if you have the gene that causes it.
H. pylori infection
It is not yet clear whether everyone with on-going (chronic) infection with H. pylori bacteria should be treated to prevent stomach cancer. Some studies have suggested that giving antibiotics to people with H. pylori infection might lower their rate of getting stomach cancer. But more research needs to be done.
Stay away from tobacco
Tobacco use can increase the risk of stomach cancer, as well as other cancers.
Types of stomach cancer
There are different types of stomach cancer and the frequency of these cancer subtypes are as follows.
Adenocarcinoma : 90-95%
Lymphomas :1-5%
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors : 2%
Carcinoids :1%
Adenoacanthomas :1%
Squamous cell carcinomas :1%
Your Journey
Start Your Recovery
Our dedicated Patient Navigator will assist you with appointment scheduling. Contact us at +6012-3993260 (Call or Whatsapp ).
First Consultation
On appointment day, bring along all the medical reports and your identity documents, ie. identity card or passport. Our team will help you organize the medical reports for our oncologist to review. Our oncologist will discuss the treatment plan with you. Tele-consult is available for overseas patients.
Treatment Day
Come to our center on an agreed date and time for the treatment. Our team will take good care of you. You will be discharged on the same day. Yes, you will get to go home after every treatment visit as no overnight admission is required.
Stay on Track
Our dedicated patient navigator will be following up with you post treatment to check on your condition, to ensure that you are doing well. You will receive a reminder message on your phone for the next appointment date.
Credentials You Can Trust
Ministry of Health Malaysia
Onco Life Centre is fully licensed as an Oncology Consultation and Treatment Centre (License No: 931401-00214-03/2024)
DR. CHRISTINA NG VAN TZE
MBBS (MELB), FELLOW RACP (AUS)
DR. JOSEPH KANIANTHRA JOSEPH
MBBCH, BAO (IRE), MRCP (UK)
I have been coming to OncoLife centre with my mother. She is under the care of Dr Christina since diagnosis and has been on targeted therapy and is doing well. Dr Christina Ng has been guiding my mum through her treatment and is quick to suggest changes if needed. She is also very ready to hear our concerns and will always take our preference into consideration. Communication with the staff is good and we can readily ask them questions at any time. The atmosphere of the clinic is also pleasant which makes waiting around not such a chore. Parking is readily available in the building. Overall, Onco Life is very patient centred and I am very thankful to Dr Christina and her team for the support they have given my mum and the family.
My mother was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer about 6 months ago at a hospital in KL. We were all very scared, worried and felt very lost at the same time. A friend suggested that we seek advice from Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. During our first consultation, Dr Christina had explained patiently to us that my mother has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and it has spread to her liver and lung. She had suggested for my mother to promptly start on combination chemotherapy. We were initially worried about chemotherapy side effects. Dr Christina had explained to us that she would carefully select drugs which my mother would likely tolerate well. Much to our surprise, my mother was very well & energetic throughout her chemotherapy course. After 3 months of chemotherapy, she did a CT scan which showed a significant reduction in all tumor deposits in pancreas, liver, lungs & peritoneum. We are grateful towards Dr Christina Ng & her Team for giving us a great hope.
My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer more than one year ago. He started treatment at another hospital but his condition worsened and he became fully dependent on oxygen support over 6 months. That was when we became very anxious and worried. We wanted to seek a second opinion and thus found Dr Christina Ng at Onco Life Centre. Dr Christina immediately adjusted his immunotherapy treatment protocol whilst actively treating his worsening infection. After 4 months under the care of Dr Christina, his condition has improved significantly and he is now totally off oxygen support. We are grateful that he is being given a new lease of life.
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