'6 in 1' major surgery saves patient with recurrent stomach cancer invading multiple organs

The early stages of stomach cancer may have no symptoms or some symptoms but they are often unclear - Illustration photo

The patient is BXQ (55 years old, residing in Thai Thuy, Thai Binh) with stomach cancer and had gastric resection surgery in 2019.

For about 2 months now, the patient has had dull epigastric pain, poor appetite and sleep, fatigue and weight loss, so he went to Thai Binh Provincial General Hospital for examination and was diagnosed with recurrent stomach cancer at the anastomosis, then went to the Oncology Center, Thai Binh Provincial General Hospital for surgery.

Doctors performed a particularly difficult "6 in 1" major surgery - removing the entire remaining stomach, resecting the splenic flexure of the colon, resecting the spleen, resecting part of the left lobe of the liver, resecting the tail of the pancreas, resecting part of the left diaphragm, and removing the metastatic lymph node system.

After more than 4 hours, the surgery was initially successful in completely removing the tumor and invasive cancerous tissue. The patient's health gradually recovered and was discharged after 12 days of intensive post-operative care.

According to Dr. Nguyen Phuc Kien, Oncology Center, this is a particularly difficult and complicated case because the patient had surgery 5 years ago, the anatomical landmarks changed, the organs in the abdomen were stuck together and especially the tumor had invaded the surrounding organs.

Postoperative pathology results showed that all resected organs had invasive cancer tissue.

"The complete removal of the tumor in this surgery has created conditions and opportunities for the patient to continue other supportive treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy to prolong life and improve quality of life," Dr. Kien emphasized.

Dr. Kien added that surgeries for recurrent, invasive gastric cancer are very difficult and complicated surgeries, posing a huge challenge for surgeons when they have to perform many major surgeries at the same time, such as removing gastric cancer, removing organs that the tumor has invaded and metastasized to, such as the spleen, pancreas, colon, etc.

The risk of accidents and complications is very high, due to the dissection of complex organs with many large blood vessels, the risk of digestive anastomosis leakage, pancreatic leakage, bile leakage, postoperative infection, requiring an experienced surgeon, with a firm grasp of anatomy, precise and meticulous dissection, and timely treatment of complications.

Olive oil is said to be very good for patients in the early stages after stomach cancer treatment.

Warning signs of stomach cancer

Dr. Quach Van Kien, deputy head of the Department of Digestive Surgery, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, said that the signs of stomach cancer depend on the stage of detection. In the early stages, there are almost no symptoms.

Dull epigastric pain or sometimes the patient feels abdominal distension, this symptom is very similar to that of gastric and duodenal ulcers so it is easily overlooked.

Patients often feel a loss of appetite, loss of appetite accompanied by symptoms of unexplained weight loss, rapid weight loss in a short period of time. These may be warning symptoms that require medical examination.

In addition, nausea, vomiting or bloating after eating can also be a warning sign of stomach cancer.

In addition, dysphagia is also a symptom that can occur in stomach cancer, often seen with tumors in the cardia-pylorus region.

In particular, if there are signs of vomiting blood (bright red, dark red, blood clots...) or prolonged black stools, it is very likely that you have stomach cancer.

To prevent stomach cancer, Dr. Kien recommends limiting the intake of salty foods, pickles, smoked meats, etc. because they contain a lot of nitrites, which when entering the stomach will combine into substances that can easily cause stomach cancer. Combine with eating a lot of green vegetables.

Quit smoking, drinking alcohol, and using stimulants. Because using these substances can cause many cancers, not just stomach cancer.

In addition, there should be a reasonable and regular rest and exercise regimen. Completely treat gastric ulcers, gastric reflux and HP bacteria.

After stomach cancer surgery, in addition to what to eat, patients need to pay more attention to how to prepare food and how to eat.

Bachelor of Nutrition Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Department of Nutrition, 108 Central Military Hospital, suggests some points that patients need to pay attention to change in the eating process, as follows:

- Food selection : In the early period after surgery, food groups to choose include complex starch (milled grains, tubers); lean meat and lean fish; soft vegetables; skim milk or good hydrolyzed milk, yogurt (low fat), vegetable oil (olive oil)...

Once your body has adapted to having your stomach completely or partially removed, you will be able to eat a wider variety of foods and eat foods from all food groups. Pay special attention to foods rich in iron and vitamin B12.

Choose foods that are high in calories, rich in nutrients, and low in sugar.

- Drink plenty of water . You can replace filtered water with milk, fruit juice... to increase the amount of calories you take in. Avoid alcohol, beer, cigarettes, carbonated soft drinks, limit coffee and tea.

Do not eat foods high in fiber such as bamboo shoots, cabbage, etc. to avoid feeling full for a long time, indigestion and constipation.

- Change the way of cooking : In the beginning after surgery, foods should be cooked soft, pureed, and chopped. Once the body adapts, gradually switch to foods prepared the same way as daily family meals.

Prioritize boiling, steaming, stewing, stir-frying, avoid frying, grilling, deep-frying or eating raw.

- Eating habits : Instead of eating three meals a day, divide your food into many small meals and eat at fixed times (6:30 - 9:00 - 11:30 - 15:00 - 18:00 - 20:00).

Chew food thoroughly, eat slowly, one small bite at a time, sit at a 60-75 degree angle, leaning back, avoid lying on your back or sitting upright. Maintain that position for 15-30 minutes after eating.

Do not drink liquids 30 minutes before and after meals to avoid feeling full.

In addition, patients need to see a nutritionist regularly to evaluate their current diet and promptly adjust any inappropriate points. Supplement vitamins and multivitamins as prescribed by your doctor.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-dai-phau-6-trong-1-cuu-benh-nhan-ung-thu-da-day-tai-phat-xam-lan-nhieu-tang-20240625200520372.htm