Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery in Boulder, CO

Stomach surgery is most often required either due to stomach ulcers or stomach cancer. Alpine Surgical offers stomach cancer surgery or gastrointestinal cancer surgery in Boulder, CO. Read on to learn more about this surgical service.

Advanced Surgical Treatment for GI Cancers

Conditions Treated

• Stomach Ulcer (Peptic Ulcer Disease)
• Stomach Tumors (benign and malignant)
• Stomach Cancer

Stomach Ulcers

An ulcer is literally a sore – a localized erosion of mucous membranes. An ulcer can result from infection, inflammation, or cancer. Certain foods, beverages, and substances like alcohol, caffeine, and aspirin can irritate the stomach and irritate ulcers.

Non-surgical treatments for ulcers can include medicines that can reduce the amount of stomach acid and lessen the irritation of an ulcer. Bleeding from an ulcer can be stopped using endoscopic therapy.

When medicine and endoscopy cannot control an ulcer, surgery is often the last resort to remove the damaged part of the stomach wall. The goal is to remove as little of the stomach as possible.

Stomach Cancer

The most common malignant stomach tumor is adinocarcinoma, although several other types are possible. The majority of stomach cancers begin in the mucosa, the innermost layer of the stomach lining.

Cancer occurs when the stomach lining cells begin to divide and grow out of control, causing one or more tumors. If left untreated, cancer destroys the lining and spreads to another part of the body. Early detection is essential, but early stomach cancer has few symptoms.

Some symptoms of advanced stomach cancer are:

• discomfort in the abdominal region
• black, tarry stools
• vomiting after meals or the vomiting of blood
• weakness
• fatigue
• weight loss
• feeling abnormally full after a meal

When stomach cancer is detected early and not too widespread, the cancer can sometimes be removed using endoscopy. The endoscope is a long tube inserted into the patient’s mouth and esophagus and then into the stomach. The surgeon performs the surgery to remove the stomach cancer through the tube, seeing his way with a tiny TV camera inserted into the tube.

When stomach cancer is more developed, the cancer is generally treated by surgically removing part or all of the stomach (called a partial or total gastrectomy). After a partial gastrectomy, the remaining portion of the stomach is reconnected to the esophagus and small intestine. After a full gastrectomy, the esophagus is attached directly to the small intestine. Sometimes, completely removing the entire stomach is the only sure way to stop stomach cancer.

Radiation and chemotherapy may also be used with stomach removal or as an alternative.

Getting Back to Normal

Since this is a major operation, you will need post-operative care for your comfort and nutrition.

• One can expect to return to everyday activities after partial or complete stomach removal.
• Vitamin B12 shots will be necessary to prevent anemia if the whole stomach is removed.
• Ongoing dietary modification may be indicated:
  • Eating smaller meals
  • Eating more frequent meals
  • Avoiding a high intake of fat at any given time
  • Making sure that the calories you take in are as nutritious as possible
  • Utilizing dietary supplements if you are having difficulty maintaining good nutrition

Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery

Although stomach cancer is less frequent in America compared to other types of cancer, it is still something you should not ignore. If you are experiencing the symptoms of stomach cancer, visit your physician or contact Alpine Surgical immediately.