How effective is chemotherapy for stomach cancer?

For some people, chemotherapy is given before surgery to reduce the tumour and make an operation more manageable. It may be continued after surgery to target cancer cells that cannot be seen. When stomach cancer has spread, medicines may slow growth, ease symptoms and help preserve daily function. Doctors judge benefit through scans, examination, symptoms, blood results and how well treatment can be delivered.

The plan may combine medicines and can be adjusted if side effects are difficult or the cancer changes. Tests on the tumour can help the team decide whether another systemic treatment should be added or considered.

Ask the oncology team what the treatment is intended to achieve and when they will reassess it. Keep a record of vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite, numbness, fever and changes in weight. Take anti-sickness medicines as prescribed, drink in small frequent amounts if advised, and report problems early so supportive care can be offered.

Contact the treatment team promptly for a fever, shaking chills, repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, severe diarrhoea, black stools, fresh bleeding, confusion or sudden weakness. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, collapse or severe chest pain.

Which stage and tumour features shape my expected response? Is chemotherapy before or after surgery, or aimed at control? What will show that it is helping? Which side effects need a same-day call?