Stomach Cancer Treatment In Germany: Only Efficient Interventions And Integrative Approach

According to the GLOBOCAN 2018 data, gastric cancer remains the 5th most common malignant neoplasm in the world. Thus, new stomach cancer treatment options are permanently elaborated and studied in numerous clinical trials.

According to the GLOBOCAN 2018 data, gastric cancer remains the 5th most common malignant neoplasm in the world. Thus, new stomach cancer treatment options are permanently elaborated and studied in numerous clinical trials. Special attention is paid to the management of inoperable and metastatic neoplasms. In the recent decades progress has been made in the sphere of targeted and immunotherapy – state-of-art pharmacological therapy that is characterized by the improved tolerability and higher efficiency.

Suspecting and confirming the diagnosis

Early manifestations of stomach malignancies are non-specific and can occur in a number of benign conditions. Such sings include pain or discomfort in the stomach, heartburn, nausea, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Advanced disease reveals itself with blood in stool and jaundice.

Treatment of stomach cancer in Germany is preceded by the precise diagnostics. Thus, after listening to complaints and investigating anamnesis doctor prescribes objective diagnostic tests. These include:

• Detecting tumor markers in the blood (CA 19-9, CEA, CA 72-4) and general blood tests (hemoglobin, liver and kidneys function).
• Endoscopy with tissue sampling (biopsy). Histological examination reveals tumor type and degree of malignancy. Biopsy is also used for investigating immunohistochemical markers like HER2, VEGF, IDO1, PD-1, etc.
• CT or PET scan.

Based on the examination results, the following tumor types are distinguished:

• Adenocarcinoma.
• Signet ring-cell carcinoma.
• Undifferentiated carcinoma.

Making choice between treatment options

Cancer treatment in Germany considers the disease stages, tumor types, comorbidities and patient’s general fitness. Depending on these, doctors choose from:

1. Surgery includes subtotal (partial) or total gastrectomy with removal of nearby lymph nodes. Small tumors at stage 0 can be removed during the endoscopic resection.
2. Radiation therapy is applied before or after surgery, or as the monotherapy in patients with inoperable malignancies.
3. Chemotherapy is applied in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant regimen, as well as in combination with irradiation (chemoradiation). Approved schemes include ECF (epirubicin, cisplatin, and 5-FU), cisplatin plus 5-FU, paclitaxel plus carboplatin.
4. Immunotherapy includes active immunotherapy, antibody therapy, and adoptive cell immunotherapy. It influences different components of the immune system, i.e. T-cells and B-cells, boosting patients’ own antineoplastic immunity.
5. Targeted therapy is applied in patients with positive HER2 status. At present time, the method has demonstrated safety and efficacy, but is still being investigated in the ongoing clinical trials.

Follow up and gastroenterological rehabilitation

Treatment in Germany is not limited to performing therapeutic interventions. Once the main part of medical program is completed, rehabilitation starts. Rehabilitation in Germany includes procedures for restoring gastrointestinal tract function and improving general fitness. Follow-up diagnostic tests are also performed according to the individual schedule.

Rehabilitation program meets needs and individual aims of the patient. Gastroenterologists, oncologists, general practitioners, physiotherapists, and psychologists are involved in it. The treatment scheme is flexible; it is adjusted to changes in a person’s state. The whole program may take from few weeks to few months.

Choosing the specialized German hospital

After making the decision to undergo treatment abroad, a patient finds great variety of hospitals that offer such medical services. To be precise, only in Germany there are over 2000 healthcare facilities. List of best hospitals for gastric cancer therapy includes:

• University Hospital Würzburg.
• University Hospital Frankfurt am Main.
• University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf.
• University Hospital Heidelberg.
• University Hospital Bonn.

Large hospitals offer standard international treatment protocols and innovative therapy, as well as chance to take part in clinical trials. In addition, a patient can always choose from multi-specialty hospitals with the interdisciplinary medical team and specialized oncological centers.

Receiving treatment abroad with Booking Health

Treatment of stomach cancer in Germany is available to patients from different countries. Planning cancer therapy in the foreign hospital has peculiarities and may seem difficult for a person without relevant experience. In order to do everything correctly and start therapy timely, it is better to use services of Booking Health.

Booking Health is the only medical tourism provider with ISO 9001:2015 certification that works with patients from over 70 countries. Medical and support specialists from Booking Health will carefully guide you through all necessary organization steps:

• Choosing the hospital and treating physician.
• Booking the appointment or surgery date.
• Preparing basic medical program in advance, without repeating the existing examinations.
• Providing favorable treatment prices, without additional coefficients or overpricing (saving up to 50%).
• Additional external monitoring of the medical program at all stages.
• Communication with the doctor after completion of the active treatment.
• Organization of additional tests, if necessary.
• Control of invoices and final calculation, return of unspent funds.
• Offering high-level organization service: booking hotels and tickets, transfer.

Leave the request on the Booking Health website, and get ready to start treatment planning on the same day.