Kathmandu
Cancer Center
Kathmandu
Cancer Center
"It's just acidity." Those four words delay more cancer diagnoses in Nepal than anything else.
Persistent indigestion. Feeling full after two bites. Slowly losing weight without trying. These are not just stomach problems. In Nepal — where H. pylori infects over 60% of adults — they can be early signs of gastric cancer. And early is the only time that gives you a real choice.
Medically reviewed by: The Oncology Team, Kathmandu Cancer Center — Surgical Oncology · Medical Oncology · Radiation Oncology. This page is for educational purposes. Consult a qualified doctor for personal medical advice. Last updated: 2025.
The cruelest thing about stomach cancer is how ordinary its early symptoms feel. Acidity. Bloating. Not feeling hungry. In Nepal, where gastritis is almost universal, most people medicate these symptoms for months — sometimes years — before anyone considers cancer. That delay is the single biggest reason stomach cancer is so often found late.
Chronic acidity (ग्यास्ट्रिटिस) affects a huge proportion of Nepali adults and is treated endlessly with omeprazole and antacids — often without a proper diagnosis. Stomach cancer sits silently behind this same symptom picture for a year or more. If your acidity keeps coming back, if antacids stop working properly, or if you are over 45 with stomach symptoms you didn't have before — ask specifically for an endoscopy. It is a 20-minute camera test that can definitively tell you what's going on.
Any of these symptoms? Call KCC now: 01-6634300. Do not delay.
If your father has been complaining about his stomach for months, or your mother keeps buying antacids but isn't getting better — don't let it slide. Bring them to KCC for a consultation. We see patients from across Nepal every day — Pokhara, Chitwan, Dharan, Butwal — for an endoscopy that takes 20 minutes and answers the most important question: Is it cancer or isn't it?
Nepal has a higher gastric cancer burden than most Western countries. Several causes are particularly prevalent here — and understanding them empowers both prevention and early action.
The single most important modifiable risk factor for stomach cancer in Nepal. H. pylori colonises the stomach lining and over years or decades causes chronic inflammation (atrophic gastritis), intestinal metaplasia, and eventually cancer. Prevalence in Nepal exceeds 60% of adults. The good news: H. pylori is entirely curable with a course of antibiotics — and eradication meaningfully reduces cancer risk.
Ask about H. pylori testing at KCCHigh consumption of gundruk (fermented leafy greens), sinki (fermented radish), heavily salted achaar, smoked meats, and other preserved foods is strongly linked to gastric cancer. These foods produce N-nitroso compounds that directly damage the stomach lining over years. A diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits is consistently protective — even in H. pylori-positive individuals.
Smokers have approximately double the risk of developing stomach cancer compared to non-smokers. Chewing tobacco (khaini, gutka, tobacco paan) also contributes significantly. The risk begins to fall — measurably — after quitting, regardless of how long you've smoked.
Having a parent or sibling with stomach cancer increases your personal risk 2–3 times. This likely reflects shared H. pylori exposure within households combined with inherited susceptibility. In rare cases, CDH1 gene mutations cause Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) — a syndrome requiring intensive surveillance or prophylactic gastrectomy. If multiple family members are affected, discuss genetic counselling at KCC.
Chronic atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, gastric adenomatous polyps, and previous stomach surgery for benign disease (especially Billroth II) all create a stomach environment where cancer cells can establish more easily. These conditions warrant regular endoscopic monitoring.
Gastric cancer becomes significantly more common after age 50. Men develop it at roughly twice the rate of women. Interestingly, blood group A is associated with slightly higher risk. However, stomach cancer occurs across all ages — do not dismiss symptoms simply because you are younger.
Yes — significantly. H. pylori eradication, dietary modification (reducing salt and pickled foods, increasing fresh vegetables), smoking cessation, and screening endoscopy in high-risk individuals all meaningfully reduce both incidence and mortality from gastric cancer. For those with multiple risk factors, KCC's cancer screening programme offers structured surveillance to catch changes early.
Many patients in Nepal visit multiple general practitioners over months before receiving a definitive diagnosis. KCC offers a streamlined pathway — from your first consultation to a confirmed diagnosis — entirely within Nepal.
The gold standard diagnostic test. A thin, flexible camera (endoscope) is guided through the mouth to directly visualise the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Any suspicious thickening, ulceration or mass is biopsied during the same procedure. Done under mild sedation — most patients describe it as completely tolerable.
Endoscopy services at KCCTissue samples are analysed by KCC's pathology team to confirm cancer and determine the exact type and grade. Crucially, HER2 testing (immunohistochemistry and FISH) is performed on every gastric cancer biopsy — because HER2-positive tumours respond to targeted therapy (trastuzumab) that dramatically improves outcomes.
A CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis determines the stage — whether cancer has spread to lymph nodes, liver, lungs, peritoneum or other organs. Staging drives every subsequent treatment decision: surgery-first vs. chemotherapy-first, curative vs. palliative intent.
Radiology at KCCFor patients where CT staging is uncertain, PET-CT detects metabolically active cancer cells even in small lymph nodes or distant sites that CT cannot resolve. This prevents unnecessary surgery in patients with occult metastatic disease and ensures the most precise treatment planning.
CEA and CA 19-9 tumour markers are checked at baseline and throughout treatment as monitoring tools. Full blood count, liver and kidney function, and nutritional markers are assessed before any treatment begins. Iron-deficiency anaemia from chronic occult bleeding is a common and informative finding.
Every stomach cancer case at KCC is presented at a formal MDT meeting attended by surgical oncologist, medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, radiologist, and pathologist. No patient receives a treatment plan from a single doctor working alone — this is a standard we uphold for every patient, every time.
Treatment of gastric cancer requires a personalised combination of approaches. KCC offers every treatment modality under one roof — surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, radiation and palliative care. You do not need to travel to India.
Surgical removal of the stomach — partial or total — is the primary curative treatment for localised gastric cancer. KCC's surgical oncologists perform D2 gastrectomy (the international gold standard, involving systematic lymph node clearance) for eligible patients. Minimally invasive (laparoscopic) gastrectomy is available for suitable tumour locations, reducing recovery time and complications.
Surgical Oncology at KCCUsed before surgery (neoadjuvant/perioperative — to shrink the tumour and treat micrometastases), after surgery (adjuvant — to reduce recurrence risk), or as primary treatment for advanced/metastatic disease. Regimens available at KCC: FLOT (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, 5-FU), FOLFOX, XELOX, Capecitabine — all administered in KCC's dedicated Day Care Chemotherapy unit.
Chemotherapy at KCCApproximately 15–20% of gastric cancers overexpress the HER2 protein. For these patients, adding trastuzumab (Herceptin) to chemotherapy significantly improves survival — this is one of the most meaningful advances in gastric oncology in the past two decades. KCC tests every patient for HER2 status at the time of biopsy so no eligible patient is denied this benefit.
Used alongside chemotherapy (concurrent chemoradiation) for gastroesophageal junction tumours, or for locoregional control in resected patients at high risk of local recurrence. For advanced disease, radiation provides effective palliation of pain, bleeding and obstruction. KCC's linear accelerators deliver image-guided, conformal radiation that protects surrounding organs.
Radiotherapy at KCCFor advanced gastric cancer with high PD-L1 expression, checkpoint inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab (used alongside chemotherapy) have demonstrated meaningful survival improvements. MSI-H/dMMR tumours respond especially well. KCC's oncologists evaluate every advanced patient for immunotherapy eligibility — including PD-L1 testing and MSI status assessment.
For patients with advanced stomach cancer where cure is not the goal, quality of life is. KCC's palliative care team manages pain, nausea, fatigue, nutritional challenges and emotional distress. Gastric stent placement for outlet obstruction, nutritional support, and symptom-directed radiotherapy are all available. The goal is to live as well as possible, for as long as possible — with full dignity.
Palliative Care at KCCIf any of this page feels like it's describing your symptoms — or those of someone you love — the most important thing you can do is have a conversation with a specialist. A single consultation can give you a clear answer.
KCC is located in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur — accessible from Kathmandu, Lalitpur, the Ring Road, and all major Nepali cities. Sunday–Friday, 9am–5pm.
Our gastric oncology team — surgical, medical and radiation oncologists — uses internationally validated protocols with deep experience treating patients from across Nepal. Treatment plans are team decisions, not individual ones.
D2 Gastrectomy (partial & total), laparoscopic gastric surgery, lymph node dissection, peritoneal disease management, reconstructive procedures post-gastrectomy. Trained to Tata Memorial / AIIMS protocols.
Perioperative FLOT/FOLFOX chemotherapy, HER2-directed trastuzumab, PD-L1 immunotherapy (pembrolizumab/nivolumab), advanced gastric cancer management, clinical trial access.
Every year, thousands of Nepali families make the exhausting journey to Vellore, Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata for cancer treatment. We understand why — trust in local capability is hard-earned. Here is an honest assessment of where that choice stands today.
| Factor | KCC, Bhaktapur (Nepal) | India (Tier 1 Cancer Hospitals) |
|---|---|---|
| Language & Communication | ✅ Nepali — full comfort for patient & family | ⚠️ Hindi / English — language barrier, translators often needed |
| Surgery Standard (Gastrectomy) | ✅ D2 Gastrectomy — international gold standard | ✅ D2 Gastrectomy — same standard available |
| Chemotherapy Regimens | ✅ FLOT, FOLFOX, XELOX, Trastuzumab, Pembrolizumab | ✅ Same regimens available |
| HER2 & Molecular Testing | ✅ Done on-site at KCC pathology lab | ✅ Available at major centres |
| Travel Cost (patient + family) | ✅ Zero travel cost | ❌ NPR 40,000–100,000+ (flights, visa, ground transport) |
| Accommodation Cost | ✅ Family stays at home | ❌ NPR 1,500–5,000 per person per night, often 1–3 months |
| Waiting Time for Appointments | ✅ 2–5 days for most diagnostics | ⚠️ Often 2–6 weeks for initial specialist appointments |
| Psychological Burden on Family | ✅ Patient near home, family support intact | ❌ Separation, unfamiliar city, managing from distance |
| Follow-up Care (3-monthly) | ✅ Easy — nearby in Nepal | ❌ Each follow-up requires return travel to India |
| Total Cost of Treatment (estimate) | ✅ Significantly lower | ❌ Typically 2–4× higher when travel & accommodation factored in |
पेटको क्यान्सर (Gastric Cancer) पेटको भित्री भागको कोशिकाहरूमा असामान्य वृद्धि हुँदा हुने गम्भीर रोग हो। नेपालमा यो क्यान्सर पेट र पाचन अंगहरूको क्यान्सरमध्ये तेस्रो सबभन्दा सामान्य छ। सबभन्दा ठूलो कारण हो H. pylori नामको ब्याक्टेरियाको संक्रमण — जुन नेपालको ६०% भन्दा बढी वयस्कमा पाइन्छ।
पेटको क्यान्सरका प्रारम्भिक लक्षणहरू सामान्य जठरशोथ (ग्यास्ट्रिटिस) जस्तै देखिन्छन् — त्यसैले धेरैजना बर्षौंसम्म बेवास्ता गर्छन्। यी लक्षणहरूमा ध्यान दिनुहोस्:
नेपालमा पेटको क्यान्सरका मुख्य कारणहरू: H. pylori संक्रमण, धेरै नुन र अचार (गुन्द्रुक, सिन्की, सुकुटी) खाने बानी, धुम्रपान, र परिवारमा पेटको क्यान्सरको इतिहास। H. pylori एन्टिबायोटिकले पूर्णतः निको गर्न सकिन्छ — र यसले क्यान्सरको जोखिम उल्लेखनीय रूपमा घटाउँछ।
काठमाडौं क्यान्सर सेन्टर (KCC), सूर्यबिनायक, भक्तपुरमा पेटको क्यान्सरको सम्पूर्ण उपचार उपलब्ध छ:
महत्वपूर्ण सन्देश: भारत जानु पर्दैन। KCC मा त्यही मापदण्डको उपचार, नेपाली भाषामा, घरको नजिकैबाट। पोखरा, चितवन, धरान, बुटवल — नेपालका सबै भागबाट बिरामीहरू KCC मा आउँछन्। फोन: 01-6634300 | WhatsApp: Message us
यो जानकारी KCC को oncology टोलीद्वारा समीक्षा गरिएको छ। यो शैक्षिक उद्देश्यका लागि मात्र हो। व्यक्तिगत चिकित्सा सल्लाहका लागि कृपया डाक्टरसँग परामर्श गर्नुहोस्।
Most patients and families searching online have one question that no amount of medical information quite answers: What actually happens if we come here? Here is exactly what to expect — from your first phone call to the end of treatment.
Call us, WhatsApp us, or send your reports for a specialist review. Bring your scans, blood tests, and any previous endoscopy results. Our team will guide you through everything else.
These are the questions patients and families bring to KCC most often. Honest answers, in plain language.
KCC is Nepal's dedicated cancer centre. Whether you or a family member has received a cancer diagnosis — or you simply want clarity on a concerning symptom — our specialists are here for every cancer type.