According to information from Robert Koch Institute, about 15,000 patients were diagnosed with gastric cancer in 2014 in Germany alone (1).  The prognosis of gastric cancer is generally poor with an estimated relative 5 years survival rate of 30 % for males and 33% for females (1). According to statistics from 2013, the lethality is reduced one third in comparison to what we used to see 40 years ago (2). This improvement is due to advancements in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer. Extensive research work is underway to develop better treatment modalities. 

In Gastric cancer care, doctors from different specialty areas often work together to create a patient’s overall treatment plan that combines different types of treatment. The personalized care plan is the cornerstone of the successful treatment of cancers in Germany.  Each patient receives an individualised treatment plan depending on their tumour type and its stage of progression. In this procedure, the identification of tumour histology and staging of the tumour is of fundamental importance for the successful planning of treatment options.  This is a key factor in German Health Advisors’ daily work.