Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer) – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer) – Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Stomach cancer is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells within the lining of the stomach. Also called gastric cancer, this type of cancer is difficult to diagnose because most people typically don’t show symptoms in the earlier stages.
Stomach cancer can affect any part of the stomach. But in most cases, stomach cancers form in the main part of the stomach, called stomach body. Though stomach cancer is relatively rare compared to other types of cancer, the biggest danger of this disease is the difficulty of diagnosing it. So, it is important to get the knowledge you need to beat stomach cancer.
What causes stomach cancer?
The exact cause for stomach cancer is still unknown but we do know a few things that can raise your risk for the disease. One of the major risk factor is – H. pylori bacterial infections (a common stomach infection that can sometimes lead to ulcers).
Other things that seem to play a role in raising the risk include:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease
- Obesity
- A diet high in salty and smoked foods
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
- Family history of stomach cancer
- Long-term stomach inflammation (gastritis)
- Smoking
- Stomach polyps
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?
There are typically no early signs or symptoms of stomach cancer. Hence people often don’t know anything is wrong until the cancer has reached an advanced stage.
Some of the most common symptoms of advanced stomach cancer are:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling bloated after eating
- Feeling full after eating small amounts of food
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Unintentional weight loss
- Vomiting
How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
To find out if you have stomach cancer, your doctor starts with a physical exam. They will get to know about your medical history to see if you have any risk factors for stomach cancer or any family members who’ve had it. Further, they might give you some tests, including:
- Blood tests
- Upper endoscopy
- Upper GI series test
- CT scan
- Biopsy
Stomach cancer treatment
Traditionally, stomach cancer is treated with one or more of the following:
- chemotherapy
- radiation therapy
- surgery
- immunotherapy, such as vaccines and medication
Your exact treatment plan will depend on the origin and stage of the cancer. Age and overall health can also play a role.
Aside from treating cancer cells in the stomach, the goal of treatment is to prevent the cells from spreading. Stomach cancer, when left untreated, may spread to the:
- lungs
- lymph nodes
- bones
- liver
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