What are the complications which can be possible after stomach cancer surgery? Please tell me in detail.

Question

Hi lybrate-user, I appreciate you seeking help. Well, as far as I know and understand, following are the probable complications and side effects of a stomach cancer surgery -
- being a difficult surgery often, there can be bleeding from the surgery, blood clots etc all. There can also be damage to nearby organs during the surgical procedure.
- the patient will usually not be allowed to eat/drink anything for at least a few days post total or partial gastrectomy. This allows time for the digestive tract to heal properly.
- while recovering from surgery, one may have side effects like nausea, heartburn, pain in abdomen, diarrhea etc all especially after taking food. Dumping of food into the intestines happens too quickly after eating. The side effects often get better over time though.
- one will require to eat smaller meals, more frequently. This is dependent upon how much of the stomach is actually removed.
- as a surgical removal (total/ partial) can interfere with vitamins absorption, one may require to be on vitamin supplements as appropriate.
Last but not the least, having said the above-mentioned, I would advise you nevertheless to get in touch with an experienced/ expert onco surgeon specializing in gastric cancers, who can educate you more on the risks/ complications versus the benefits involved. You can take a decision accordingly.
Also, I would like to emphatically add hereby that an integrative treatment (peri-operative) with natural/ alternative medicines can certainly help fasten recovery and get over convalescence soon. Hope this helps

Pritam Mohapatra · Accepted Answer

Hi lybrate-user, I appreciate you seeking help. Well, as far as I know and understand, following are the probable complications and side effects of a stomach cancer surgery -
- being a difficult surgery often, there can be bleeding from the surgery, blood clots etc all. There can also be damage to nearby organs during the surgical procedure.
- the patient will usually not be allowed to eat/drink anything for at least a few days post total or partial gastrectomy. This allows time for the digestive tract to heal properly.
- while recovering from surgery, one may have side effects like nausea, heartburn, pain in abdomen, diarrhea etc all especially after taking food. Dumping of food into the intestines happens too quickly after eating. The side effects often get better over time though.
- one will require to eat smaller meals, more frequently. This is dependent upon how much of the stomach is actually removed.
- as a surgical removal (total/ partial) can interfere with vitamins absorption, one may require to be on vitamin supplements as appropriate.
Last but not the least, having said the above-mentioned, I would advise you nevertheless to get in touch with an experienced/ expert onco surgeon specializing in gastric cancers, who can educate you more on the risks/ complications versus the benefits involved. You can take a decision accordingly.
Also, I would like to emphatically add hereby that an integrative treatment (peri-operative) with natural/ alternative medicines can certainly help fasten recovery and get over convalescence soon. Hope this helps