Stomach Cancer in the Elderly

Stomach cancer is a disease that develops in the upper digestive system.

Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer in the Elderly

Stomach cancer can occur in people who have no family history of the disease or in those who have several family members with stomach cancer. There are, however, some risk factors that could cause older adults to have a higher chance of developing the disease.

These factors include:

• Pernicious anemia
• Intestinal metaplasia
• Gastric polyps
• Smoking
• Eating foods that are processed or high in sodium
• Being an older male
• Family history

Although these factors put the elder at a higher risk, they do not ultimately determine that the elder will develop stomach cancer.

By getting diagnosed early and with the support of family members and a home care provider, there are several treatment options available.

Treatment Options for Stomach Cancer in the Elderly

By getting diagnosed early and with the support of family members and a home care provider, there are several treatment options available.

Surgery: If the stomach cancer is still in the early stages, surgery may be recommended. This is because the cancerous cells are still easily removable and the procedure should hopefully prevent the disease from spreading. Once the cancerous cells begin to spread, surgery may still be possible, but will be much more difficult to remove all of the deadly cells.

Fractionated Dose Chemotherapy: This is a popular treatment option for older adults with stomach cancer. It is a way to place a small port into the chest of the patient, where the medication will be administered. Treatments are often conducted several times a week at either a hospital with a cancer department or a specialized cancer facility. It usually takes an hour or two for each session and the treatment may last several weeks or as long as the elder has cancerous cells.

Radiation: A beam of radiation is placed directly on the area with cancerous cells in order to kill them. Very little damage is done to the healthy cells and is typically done between three and five times per week. Depending on the severity of the cancer, treatments usually last for about eight weeks.

Biotherapy and Immunotherapy: These two types of therapy are used to strengthen the immune system of the elder by using man-made immune system proteins. Biotherapy and immunotherapy are often used in conjunction with other stomach cancer treatments. There are currently no statistics that prove these two treatment options are effective in treating stomach cancer.

Contact Sonas for Home Health Care Services

Watching an elderly loved one go through any disease is difficult, but knowing that these treatment options are available should put your mind at ease.

If you or an aging loved one are considering home health care services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today (888) 592-5855.

Source
https://seniors.lovetoknow.com/Stomach_Cancer_Treatments_for_the_Elderly 

Jillian Miller BSN, RN

Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care

This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them.