The surgical removal of the stomach. This is all too often the only viable treatment for those unlucky enough to get stomach cancer.

As a semi-replacement for the stomach, the surgeon will make a small pouch out of large intestine material. This pouch will store ingested food, but it cannot produce stomach acid. Because of this, the patient must take medications which aid in the digestion of food (i.e., take the place of stomach acid). Since this pseduo-stomach is obviously not as effective as the original, the patient is virtually unable to eat normal solid food, especially in any significant quantity. At best, baby food is all the patient will be able to eat.

Pleasant? Not very. But hey, it's probably better than dying.