Gastrectomy - Results of gastrectomy

Gastrectomy is usually an effective treatment for cancer and obesity.

Cancer

Healthcare professionals use the phrase five-year disease-free survival to refer to people who are alive and well whose cancer has not returned five years after having surgery.

One study found the five-year disease-free survival rate for people who had a gastrectomy for early-stage stomach cancer was estimated to be around 85%.

The five-year disease-free survival rate for people who have a gastrectomy for advanced stomach cancer is estimated to be about 30%.

Many people who have a gastrectomy for stomach cancer live for much longer than five years without the cancer returning.

The survival rate of oesophagogastrectomy to treat cancer is not as good. Studies have shown five-year disease-free survival rates of around 25% for this type of operation. This may be because this operation is usually done if the cancer is discovered at a late stage and has already started to spread.

Obesity

Sleeve gastrectomy has a good success rate for treating obesity.

Studies have found excess weight loss of up to 75% after surgery. Excess weight loss is a measurement based on your weight before surgery and your ideal weight.

Further research is needed to determine how effective sleeve gastrectomy is for the long-term treatment of obesity. Studies often show that average excess weight declines over time, which suggests some people regain some of the weight they lost initially.

To get the best results from a sleeve gastrectomy, it is important to follow the instructions given by your healthcare team about diet and exercise.