Stomach (gastric) cancer often develops quietly, with early symptoms that resemble ordinary indigestion — which is why it is frequently found late. Timely evaluation of persistent upper-abdominal symptoms, and prompt endoscopy, make an important difference.

At Indian OncoCare, gastric cancer treatment is planned and supervised personally by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), Senior Consultant – Medical Oncology & Hemato-Oncology at Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, working with GI surgeons, radiation oncologists and pathologists as one team.

When to see a stomach cancer specialist

See a specialist if you have persistent:

Indigestion, heartburn or upper-abdominal discomfort that does not settle
Feeling full quickly when eating, or loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting, sometimes with blood
Black, tarry stools or unexplained anaemia
Unintended weight loss or persistent tiredness

A history of long-standing H. pylori infection, chronic gastritis or a family history raises the risk and lowers the threshold for endoscopy.

How stomach cancer is diagnosed

An upper GI endoscopy with biopsy is the key test. Staging then uses a CT scan, sometimes a PET-CT, and occasionally a staging laparoscopy to check the abdominal lining. The biopsy is tested for HER2, and increasingly for PD-L1 and microsatellite instability (MSI), because these determine whether targeted therapy and immunotherapy will help.

Treatment options

Gastric cancer treatment combines:

Surgery — partial or total gastrectomy with lymph node removal, the main treatment for localised disease.
Chemotherapy — given before and after surgery (perioperative), or as the backbone of treatment in advanced disease.
Radiation therapy — used in selected cases, often with chemotherapy.
Targeted therapy (for HER2-positive tumours) and immunotherapy (guided by PD-L1/MSI) in advanced disease.

If drug therapy is planned, our guide on your first chemotherapy cycle explains a treatment day step by step.

Why choose Indian OncoCare

Your plan is prepared and reviewed personally by Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh), delivered through Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda, Hyderabad, with surgical, radiation and medical oncology working as one team. See our cancer services, the patient journey, and related pages for colorectal, liver and pancreatic cancer.

Support for patients and families

A cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and practical support matters as much as medical treatment. Our patient support resources help you prepare for consultations and understand each step, while our financial guidance can help you understand treatment costs and the insurance or assistance options that may be available.

You can find more guidance and checklists in our patient resources section. Patients travelling from outside Hyderabad or from abroad usually begin with an online consultation before continuing in person — see our international patients page for how this is coordinated.

Frequently asked questions

Does stomach cancer always need surgery?

Surgery offers the best chance of cure for localised disease and is usually combined with chemotherapy. In advanced disease, drug therapy takes the lead to control the cancer.

Why is HER2 testing done?

Because HER2-positive stomach cancers can benefit from HER2-directed targeted therapy added to chemotherapy — an option that would be missed without testing.

Can I eat normally after surgery?

Eating patterns change after stomach surgery, and dietary support helps you adapt with smaller, more frequent meals. The team guides you through this.

Who supervises my treatment?

Dr. Harish Kancharla, DM (Medical Oncology, AIIMS Delhi), MD (Internal Medicine, PGIMER Chandigarh) plans and reviews the medical-oncology component of your care personally.