What follow-up care should I provide for patients diagnosed with stomach cancer after their initial treatment?

For patients diagnosed with stomach (gastric) cancer who have completed initial treatment with curative intent and have no symptoms or evidence of residual disease, routine clinical follow-up or radiological surveillance solely to detect recurrent disease is not recommended. Instead, provide patients with information about symptoms of recurrence and advise them on what to do if these symptoms develop. Additionally, offer rapid access to the specialist oesophago-gastric multidisciplinary team for review if symptoms arise.

Before, during, and after radical treatment, patients should receive nutritional assessment and tailored specialist dietetic support. Immediate enteral or parenteral nutrition should be offered after surgery for those undergoing radical surgery. For patients receiving palliative care, specialist cancer dietitian support and involvement of palliative care teams are recommended, with dietetic support tailored to the individual’s clinical situation.

For patients with gastric cancer causing outflow obstruction, consider offering uncovered self-expanding metal stents or palliative surgery depending on fitness, prognosis, and disease extent.