The most common side effects of pain medications are fatigue and constipation. Rest and laxatives can moderate these. In cases where pain medication alone is not enough to make the patient comfortable, the treatment team may decide on treatments that affect the nerves directly. These include alcohol injection in a nerve to inhibit pain response and surgically severing nerves to prevent transmission of pain impulses. In gastric cancer cases, it is essential that the patient receive effective follow-up care.
Regular examinations are necessary to determine whether the cancer has returned or has advanced.
Many of the same methods used to diagnose the cancer may be used to evaluate the patient's recovery. These may include CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays among others. In addition, the treatment team will need to monitor the patient's new dietary regimen or other ongoing treatments. Find an oncologist near you. Join a live chat or threaded forum.