In most hospitals a team of specialists, called a multidisciplinary team (MDT) will meet to discuss and agree on the plan of treatment they feel is best for your situation. The MDT will normally include:

• a surgeon who specialises in gastrointestinal cancers
• an oncologist (cancer specialist)
• a radiologist, who helps to analyse scans and x-rays a pathologist who advises on the type and extent of the cancer
• a nurse specialist
• a dietitian.

Other staff are also available to help you if necessary, such as:

• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists
• psychologists and counsellors.

If two treatments are equally effective for the type and stage of cancer you have, your doctors may offer you a choice of treatments.  If you have to decide between treatments, make sure that you have enough information about the different treatment options. You might want to ask more about what is involved in each treatment, and about possible side effects, before you decide what is right for you.

If you have any questions about your treatment, don’t be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse. It often helps to make a list of the questions you want to ask and to take a close friend or relative with you. You may also find it helpful to keep notes about what has been said.

Some people find it reassuring to have another medical opinion to help them decide about their treatment. Most doctors will be pleased to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion if you feel this would be helpful.

Before you have any treatment, your doctor will explain the aims of the treatment to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should be given full information about:

• the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
• the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
• any other treatments that may be available
• any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.

If you don't understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it’s very common for people to need to hear explanations more than once.

If you feel that you can’t make a decision about the treatment when it is first explained to you, you can always ask for more time. You are also free to choose not to have the treatment or to stop having a treatment. If you are considering this, it’s essential to discuss things fully with your cancer specialist so that they can give you the best advice and record your decision in your medical notes.

Treatment can be given for different reasons and the potential benefits will vary for each person.

Early-stage stomach cancer

In people with early-stage stomach cancer, surgery is often done with the aim of curing the cancer. Additional treatments may also be given to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Advanced stomach cancer

If the cancer is at a more advanced stage, treatment is usually given to control symptoms, improve your quality of life and help you to live for longer. However, for some people the treatment will have little effect upon the cancer and they will get the side effects without any of the benefit.

You may feel worried at the thought of having cancer treatment, because of the potential side effects that can occur. In this situation it’s often helpful to get more information about what can be done to prevent or control side effects. The doctor giving you the treatment will be able to answer your questions about this.

If you have been offered treatment that is intended to cure your cancer, deciding whether to accept the treatment may not be difficult. However, if a cure is not possible and the treatment is being given to control the cancer for a period of time, it may be more difficult to decide what to do.

Making decisions about treatment in these circumstances is always hard, and you may need to discuss in detail with your doctor whether you wish to have treatment. If you choose not to, you can still be given supportive (palliative) care, with medicines to control any symptoms.