# Care pathway for gastric cancer On this page you will find information about the different stages of examinations and treatment of gastric cancer at HUS. ## [ From symptoms to diagnosis ](#from-symptoms-to-diagnosis) ## [ Getting a diagnosis ](#getting-a-diagnosis) ## [ Treatments ](#treatments) ## [ After treatments ](#after-treatments) ## From symptoms to diagnosis Primary health care ### A symptom appears or an abnormal finding is made --- Gastric cancer may be asymptomatic for a long time and can only be detected when the tumor has spread or metastasized. Typical first symptoms of gastric cancer are upper abdominal pain, nausea, and fatigue. If the cancer has spread further, it also causes weight loss and anemia, i.e. a decrease in the blood hemoglobin values. Symptoms may also include difficulty swallowing and blood in the vomit. ### Required additional examinations in primary health care and a physician’s assessment --- If gastric cancer is suspected, you will have an oral endoscopic examination, i.e. gastroscopy. During gastroscopy, your throat will be anesthetized and, if necessary, you can receive a premedication so that the examination does not feel uncomfortable. If changes are detected during the gastroscopy, a tissue specimen is taken from the gastric mucosa, from which the pathologist can confirm your diagnosis. ### A physician makes a referral --- If the examination result or finding is abnormal, the physician will refer you to HUS. ## Getting a diagnosis Comprehensive Cancer Center and other specialist medical care ### The referral arrives at specialized medical care and an invitation is sent to the patient --- When your referral arrives at HUS, a specialist will review your situation, plan the necessary additional examinations, and give a treatment recommendation. After this, you will receive an invitation to HUS Oncology Outpatient Clinic. ### If necessary, additional examinations can be carried out --- We investigate the extent of the stomach cancer with a computed tomography scan of the body and sometimes also with a PET scan. Sometimes a resample is also needed, which we can take during a new gastroscopy. If necessary, we will take a needle sample of a suspicious change through the abdominal wall during a CT scan or ultrasound examination. ### Appointment with a physician and a nurse --- At the appointment, we will review your examination results, overall situation, and treatment plan. At the nurse’s appointment, you will receive information about the practical implementation of your treatment, its adverse effects, as well as possible supportive therapies appropriate for your case. ## Treatments Specialized medical care ### Treatment begins --- We aim to treat cancer that is limited to the stomach curatively. Typically, we try to reduce the size of the tumor with chemotherapy already before the surgery. You may also receive chemotherapy as complementary therapy after surgery. [ Read more about the treatment of gastric cancer ](/en/patient/treatments-and-examinations/cancer/care-pathway-gastric-cancer/treatment-local-gastric) ### Healing and follow-up --- After treatments aimed at curing the cancer, we monitor your condition with regular gastroscopies, CT scans, laboratory tests, and clinical examinations. ### If the disease recurs or treatments do not help --- Some gastric cancers are diagnosed in a situation where, unfortunately, there is no curative treatment available or the cancer recurs with metastases after initial treatments with a curative goal. For localized and recurrent cancer, we can possibly perform surgery. With chemotherapy, we aim to slow down the progression of the cancer, prolong life, and alleviate the symptoms caused by cancer. Chemotherapy can be given as tablets or as intravenous treatment. Chemotherapy puts a strain on the body. For this reason, they are not suitable for treatment if your general condition has clearly deteriorated. The oncologist always plans chemotherapy individually, taking into account your general condition and functional capacity, as well as the likely benefits and harms of the treatment. If metastases cause difficult symptoms, we can treat them with radiation therapy. [At the Clinical Trial Unit,](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/clinical-pharmaceutical-research-unit "Clinical Pharmaceutical Research Unit C3, Comprehensive Cancer Center") we offer an increasing number of patients the opportunity to be among the first to receive new research treatments. ### Palliative care and psychosocial support --- Good palliative care and psychosocial support are an integral part of cancer treatment. The Palliative Care Center provides help in the stressful life situation caused by the cancer treatments. We help treat difficult symptoms and offer conversational support. A decision on palliative, i.e. symptomatic, treatment is made when the focus of your treatment shifts from slowing down the progression of cancer to managing the symptoms. In this case, treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and, as far as possible, to ensure a good and active life with the illness until death. Typically, at this stage, your care responsibility is transferred to the palliative care unit or to the palliative outpatient clinic or a hospital-at-home unit in your area. [ Read more about the Palliative Care Center ](/en/patient/hospitals-and-other-units/comprehensive-cancer-center/palliative-center-comprehensive) ## After treatments ### Follow-up in specialized medical care ends --- Your follow-up at HUS usually ends after five years if your cancer has not recurred. Updated: 09.04.2026