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Dr. Vadim Gushchin of the Institute for Cancer Care at Mercy

Surgical Oncologist Dr. Vadim Gushchin Of The Institute For Cancer Care At Mercy Discusses Treatment For Gastric Cancer On WBAL-TV11's "Woman's Doctor"

Gastric cancer is a tough form of the disease to treat and it's often diagnosed in the later stages, but a well-known drug used to fight breast cancer is now being used as treatment.

In 2006, Avis Halberstadt was having uncharacteristic stomachaches, and as a 10-year cancer survivor, she pushed for an endoscopy.

"The gastroenterologist did that and came out and told my husband, 'She has stomach cancer,'" Halberstadt said.

Her research on surgeons led her to Mercy Medical Center surgical oncologist Dr. Vadim Gushchin, who said the symptoms of stomach cancer are vague.

"Patients may have some abdominal discomfort, have a low blood count because gastric cancers tend to bleed, and may start having indigestion," he said.

According to Dr. Gushchin, many patients may ignore those symptoms for too long. The drug, Herceptin, which has long been used for breast cancer treatment, is showing promise for stomach cancer.

"We found a similar receptor in gastric cells that Herceptin works on in breast cancer in some stomach cancers. That was the foundation for use in gastric cancer," Dr. Gushchin said.

Doctors said they expect to be using Herceptin on certain patients in a matter of days.

Halberstadt said she won't be needing it. Two years after surgery, she is doing very well.

"I thank my lucky stars every day," she said.

Oncologists said they are excited about Herceptin and its news use, saying it gets them one step closer to fulfilling the dream of personalized medicine in oncology. To view Dr. Gushchin's interview, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/20434045/detail.html.