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Stomach Cancer Found? How to Choose Your Surgeon

Last updated: 02-Nov-2026

Have a stomach cancer report? Ask Dr Harsh Shah’s team on WhatsApp. · Call +91-63555-64601

Portrait of Dr Harsh Shah, gastro and cancer surgeon, Ahmedabad

Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Gastro & Cancer Surgeon · Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad

18 years of experience in cancer and major surgery of the stomach, food pipe, liver, pancreas and bowel. Trained at Maulana Azad Medical College and GB Pant Hospital, Delhi. He operates by the keyhole or open route, as the cancer needs.

In short

A good stomach cancer surgeon first shows you the whole plan, not only the operation. Ask who decides it, and why.

The operation should remove the stomach part and the nearby lymph glands in one planned step. Ask how many glands are cleared, and why.

You may get a second opinion at any time. A surgeon who is sure of the plan welcomes it.

The full approach to this cancer is on the gastric cancer surgery with Dr Harsh Shah page. This page helps you choose who should operate.

Why the choice of surgeon matters here

Stomach cancer surgery is a big operation. The first plan is the one with the strongest chance of removing the cancer fully.

The stomach sits beside the pancreas, the liver, the spleen and the bowel. The cancer spreads through lymph glands around it. If the first operation leaves cancer behind, a second operation is harder and less likely to help.

So the question is not only who can operate. It is who plans the whole route: tests, medicines before surgery, the operation, and the follow-up.

What to look for in a stomach cancer surgeon

Look for a surgeon trained in surgery of the whole digestive system who treats cancer as the main work.

  1. Training in surgical gastroenterology or surgical oncology, which is listed on the registration.
  2. A team plan: the surgeon, a medical oncologist, a radiologist and a pathologist review your reports together.
  3. Both keyhole and open surgery offered, so the route fits the cancer and not the other way round.
  4. A clear plan for food and nutrition before and after surgery.
  5. The same surgeon seen at each visit, from the first one to the last follow-up.

Training is checked on the Gujarat Medical Council register. Dr Harsh Shah’s number is G-38738.

What the plan should cover before any operation

Before surgery, the plan should say what the scans show, whether medicine comes first, and what the operation will remove.

Questions a clear plan answers
QuestionWhat a clear answer sounds likeWhy it matters
Where is the cancer, and how deep?Scope report, CT scan and, if needed, a keyhole look in the bellyDecides if the cancer can be removed at all
Does medicine come before surgery?Yes or no, with the reasonSome cancers shrink first, which makes the operation safer
How much stomach is removed?Part or all, with the reasonDecides food habits and vitamins afterwards
Which glands are removed?The glands around the stomach are cleared in one stepClearing them lowers the chance of the cancer returning
Keyhole or open?The route that is safest for this cancerRecovery differs, but clearing the cancer comes first

Signs that you should ask for a second opinion

Ask for another view if the plan is unclear, the surgery is urgent without a reason, or the scans are not explained.

  • You are told to operate at once, and no staging scan has been done.
  • No one explains why the whole stomach, or only part of it, is being removed.
  • Medicine before surgery is not discussed, though the cancer looks large.
  • You cannot reach the surgeon after the operation.

A second opinion is not rude and does not cost you time in the long run. Take your scope report, slides and scans, and ask the same questions again. See how the surgery is decided in gastric cancer for what a second look usually checks.

What to expect from a visit with Dr Harsh Shah

At the first visit, he reads your scope report, scans and slides, then explains the stage, the choices and the next step in plain words.

  • Bring every report, the scope film if you have it, and the biopsy slides.
  • Bring a family member, and write your questions down.
  • If more tests are needed, you leave with a clear list and a date.
  • If surgery is the next step, the route, the extent and the stay are explained before you decide.

Dr Harsh Shah sees patients at Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm. If the cancer sits in the upper stomach, see the total gastrectomy for upper stomach cancer page for how that operation is planned.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know a surgeon is qualified for stomach cancer?

Check training in surgical gastroenterology or surgical oncology, and the registration number on the state medical council list.

Should the same surgeon do the scope and the operation?

It helps. The surgeon who has seen the tumour plans the operation better. Reports from other centres are still reviewed carefully.

Is keyhole surgery always better for stomach cancer?

No. The route is chosen by the cancer. Some cancers are safer with open surgery. The aim is to clear the cancer first.

Can I travel from another city for surgery?

Yes. Many families do. Tests can often be done near home first, and the plan is made in one or two visits.

Is a second opinion allowed after chemotherapy has started?

Yes. The plan can be reviewed at any stage. Bring the scans taken before and after the medicine.

Where to see Dr Harsh Shah

Dr Harsh Shah — Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Dr Jivraj Mehta Marg, Vasna, Ahmedabad 380007.
Consultations, review of reports and scans, operations and follow-up. OPD Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm.
Appointments: +91-63555-64601 · +91-63590-11009 · Hospital 079-2663 6363
Directions to the hospital · WhatsApp +91-63555-64601

Back to the main guide: Gastric cancer surgery with Dr Harsh Shah.

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Dr Harsh Shah, Gastro, Cancer & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Ahmedabad
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