Gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, starts in the stomach and can spread to other organs with time. Although patients may not have symptoms early on, one may feel bloated and nauseous as the disease progresses. Individuals might also develop heartburn and indigestion. Sometimes, doctors recommend KEYTRUDA® for adults with advanced gastric cancer. The treatment helps control the symptoms and prevent the disease’s spread. Here are some benefits of using the right treatment for gastric cancer:

Curbs cancer spread
The right treatment can help stop gastric cancer from progressing. During the clinical trials, some people with gastric cancer were given KEYTRUDA® with chemotherapy. In this group, cancer did not progress from the stomach to the other organs in 28% of patients. The other group was given chemotherapy alone, which curbed the spread of cancer only for 23% of patients. This study shows that proper treatment is critical for preventing gastric cancer spread.

Boosts life expectancy
Those who received KEYTRUDA® with chemotherapy during the trials lived longer without cancer spreading or worsening. That means the correct treatment can also increase the life expectancy of people with stomach cancer.

Ensures safety
The FDA is the prime authority that evaluates the safety of foods, beverages, and treatments. So, the best treatment for gastric cancer would be the one they approved. While KEYTRUDA® is approved for those with gastric cancer, one must ask a doctor whether they can use it.

Helps shrink tumors
KEYTRUDA® can help shrink tumors due to stomach cancer when doctors use it with chemotherapy. During the trials, stomach tumors shrunk significantly for 42% of patients, whereas they disappeared completely for 9%. This percentage is higher than the results for patients who received chemotherapy alone.

Reduces gastric cancer symptoms
One can control the symptoms of gastric cancer, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and difficulty swallowing, by choosing the correct treatment. Since KEYTRUDA® shrinks stomach tumors and prevents cancer from spreading, it may help reduce these symptoms with time.

Doctors generally combine treatments like KEYTRUDA® with another option to fight gastric cancer. Doing so improves their efficacy and helps the individual recover better. The expert may prepare a treatment course after thoroughly checking the patient. Patients should be open with the doctor during the checkup to prepare a safe treatment plan that prevents complications. One should also look for oncologists who specialize in gastric cancer so that they can recommend the right treatment. Further, the individual should use any treatment only under a doctor’s close supervision and as per the doses recommended.

In addition to using the proper treatment, one can take other measures to better recover from gastric cancer. For example, individuals can limit or avoid caffeine, spicy and processed foods, dairy, and orange juice and drink plenty of water.