Overview

Cancerous cells can develop in any of the five layers of the stomach, from the innermost layer, the mucosa, to the outermost layer, the serosa. Most cases begin in the mucosa, which produces stomach acid and digestive enzymes. Symptoms, treatments, and survival rates all vary, depending on the cancer’s point of origin in the stomach.

Cancers that begin in the mucosa, the innermost layer, are the most treatable, as they slowly grow out into the outer stomach layers. Cancers in the outer layers of the stomach are more likely to spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes. Stomach cancer that spreads into the lymph system is less treatable. Once a leading cancer killer in the United States, the disease has become less common.

Benefits of Proton Therapy

• High-energy, precisely-targeted proton beams can deliver high doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells, reducing recurrence rates for many cancer cases.
• Proton therapy is non-invasive and may reduce side effects.
• Patients treated with proton therapy may have increased tolerance for chemotherapy.
• Patients can maintain their current quality of life during and after treatment.
• It is sometimes used effectively to treat areas that have already been treated with radiation.

Sources: American Cancer Society, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Research UK, National Cancer Institute, Texas Cancer Registry