Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer describes abnormal cell growth beginning in the stomach, which is a sac of muscle in the upper middle portion of the abdomen, right under the ribs. Stomach cancer is sometimes called gastric cancer, and it can occur within any part of the stomach.

Around the world, stomach cancer is most likely to occur in the stomach body, which is the main part of the stomach. In the United States, on the other hand, stomach cancer is usually found in an area called the gastroesophageal junction, which is the area where the esophagus joins the stomach.

What causes stomach cancer?

While the exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, certain risk factors can make a person more likely to develop stomach cancer. These risk factors include obesity, consuming a high amount of salty or smoked foods, eating a diet that lacks fruits and vegetables, being infected with H. pylori bacteria, chronic stomach inflammation, smoking, and stomach polyps. You are also more likely to develop stomach cancer if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or you have a family history of stomach cancer. You can reduce your risk of stomach cancer by maintaining a healthy weight, making changes to your diet, and giving up cigarettes if you are a smoker.

What is the prognosis for stomach cancer?

The five-year survival rate for localized stomach cancer is about 69%, meaning that when compared to those who do not have stomach cancer, those who do are 69% as likely to survive for five years after diagnosis. Survival rates are lower if stomach cancer spreads to other areas of the body.

How is stomach cancer treated?

Treatment for stomach cancer depends upon the stage and location of the cancer, as well as a patient’s unique needs and preferences. Treatment options include performing a procedure to remove small cancers from the lining of the stomach, as well as surgery to remove either part of or all of the stomach. Among the other treatment options for stomach cancer are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. These options are typically used for more advanced stage stomach cancer. A medical team may also provide palliative care, which focuses on relieving pain and uncomfortable symptoms associated with cancer.

Common Symptoms

“I started to have a lot of trouble swallowing food, and I felt really full and bloated after a meal.”
“I started to feel so full after eating just a small amount of food that I lost weight without even trying.”
“I was experiencing heartburn and stomach pain all the time, and I had some bouts of nausea and vomiting.”

Sources:

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Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

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Sharon S.

I'm happy, Amy centered on the issue. The Xray bore her analysis as true. I'm excited and looking forward to a resolution for my struggles with large bloat and constipation.

MaVilma M.

Good service Doctor and Nurses are very friendly from front desk till finished and they accompanied me to my car . What a incredible an services.

Diane F.

Office staff are pleasant & Dr Donat is an excellent physician. He always takes the time to explain every detail of medical conditions and procedures

Jennifer S.

All staff were professional and courteous from start to finish. The doctors and other medical staff were excellent and made me feel very comfortable.

Filis M.

Clean, prompt, organized and professional. Dr. Donat is thorough and explains everything well. Highly recommend.

Caroline M.

Very pleased with the professional atmosphere in the office from the front desk to meeting with Dr. Willie. Always a positive and good experience!

Sandra Y.

My husband had a GREAT experience.

Alicia Frances D.

excellent staff extremely thorough and on top of things. Dr. Webber is fantastic. It was a quick experience no waiting and everyone was extremely kind and on top of their game highly recommend.

C “E” L.

Romeo Plank location was perfect. Reception greeted me promptly and staff was so nice. The nurses were thorough and fast. Dr. Bologna was 100. I was in and out. Every staff member treated me with care and kindness.

Youngh L.

Thank you so much to the staff who helped me complete all the tests in peace Everyone was kind and nice The doctor did a great job of testing It was a great visit

Tom H.

Excellent team! Very compassionate, friendly, and helpful. Dr. Bologna does an outstanding job.😎

Lori L.

Excellent! This staff was very helpful. I highly recommend this medical team!

Alison Z.

I had my colonoscopy with Dr. A Bakken and could not have asked for a better experience. From check-in to discharge, the entire staff was kind, professional, and reassuring. Dr. Bakken was phenomenal — she was thorough, compassionate, and took the time to explain everything clearly. The procedure went perfectly and I felt completely at ease the entire time. I am so grateful for such wonderful care and highly recommend this practice.

Martha S.

Great experience in having a colonoscopy (if that is possible!). Dr Qualich is great

William C.

Dr Alia aseed, is great and everyone was knowledgeable and kind!

Phil P.

On and out Staff was great and friendly

Johnny V.

I arrived at the center worried about my situation, and left a new man, no longer worried about my health, but thankful to have a second chance.

Cyndi R.

Fast friendly professional experience.

Sheryl T.

Fast, efficient, friendly very professional service.

Bill G.

Dr Balogna is the best! Very knowledgeable and understanding. That's what makes a good doctor.

michael F.

Good fast service.pleasant staff.good information from doctor.missed pop and bag of chips in recovery room

Jessica P.

Extremely friendly and calm staff from the front desk to nurses to techs and doctors. The process was streamlined and efficient. I cannot stress enough how kind everyone was. This was my first procedure and I was quite nervous. I was quickly comforted by the calm and caring team at CDH. Everything went so smoothly. After my procedure they called me at home to check on me. Was surprised and pleased. Thanks again. Service like this is pretty rare these days! 🙂

Dennis Z.

Smooth procedure, prompt and friendly staff and Dr. Nandi was quick with a prognosis. Anesthia was easy and recovery was quick

john P.

The Doctor and staff was very professional and pleasant.

Ray J.

Wonderful atmosphere, saw Noelle and i was very impressed. She listened and explained everything in detail. The whole staff was excellent.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

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Marty A.

Everyone was very welcoming and professional. The nurses and techs were very polite and enjoyable to be around. I was treated very well.

Marie S.

Kind and caring staff, Dr. Nandi is the best, just outstanding. Thank you.

sigrid T.

Felt safe and taken care of. Dr Quallich is exceptional and kind. The entire staff was kind and knowledgeable. The procedures are necessary and represent me taking care of myself! A good decision all Round! Thank you

Ramona A.

I had a positive experience from the point of making my appointment through the procedure. I received reminder information before the procedure, as well as a call the day after my procedure to check on how I was doing. Thanks for caring and taking pride in what you do for others.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

Christina N. Brown, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

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