Cancerous tissue located in the mucosal or submucosal layer of the stomach is called early gastric cancer, and the definition does not include the size of the lesion or the presence of lymph node metastases. Surgery or endoscopic resection is the primary treatment for early gastric cancer.
There are two main types of endoscopic treatment, one is endoscopic mucosal resection and the other is endoscopic mucosal dissection, the latter of which is more complete than the former and is more favorable for postoperative pathologic analysis. As for surgical resection, the radical approach for early gastric cancer has better results than the endoscopic resection approach and greatly improves the postoperative survival rate, with a 5-year survival rate of more than 90%, improving the quality of life of patients.
Early gastric cancer treated surgically does not require chemotherapy. Enhancing the body’s immunity, adjusting emotions, eliminating fear, improving the diet structure, avoiding spicy and irritating foods, and having a positive mindset help improve the quality of life and increase the survival rate.