2. The Diverging Paths: Stage I Gastric Cancer
Stage I of gastric cancer is a fork in the road, featuring two sub-stages: IA and IB. The disease has started to spread but remains comparatively constrained. The cancer may have breached the second or third layer of the stomach, though it’s notably sparse in invading lymph nodes. Stage I is essentially cancer trying to expand its territory but still uncertain of how far it wants to go.
While Stage IA is like a carefully planned first move in a chess game, Stage IB is a little more daring. In IA, the cancer has its sights set on the second or third layers of the stomach wall but shies away from the lymph nodes. On the other hand, Stage IB may see the cancer venture into the lymph nodes, signaling a more aggressive turn.
Treatment approaches for Stage I are relatively less rigorous but involve multi-faceted strategies. For instance, surgical removal of part of the stomach, known as subtotal gastrectomy, may be performed. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy can also follow the surgical procedure to ensure that any lingering cancer cells are eradicated.
On the flip side, surgery at this stage may involve more than just the stomach. Adjacent organs like the spleen or segments of the colon may also be removed if the cancer shows signs of spreading. The complexity of the surgical procedures depends on how adventurous these malignant cells have become.
The Stage I survival rates are favorable, hovering around 80% for IA and slightly lower for IB. Though a Stage I diagnosis is a jarring reality, it’s far from a death sentence. There’s a palpable hope, and with timely and appropriate treatment, many patients go on to lead fulfilling lives. (2)
