Gastric cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in China and ranks first in the incidence of digestive tract tumors in China. However, the early symptoms of gastric cancer are not specific, so what should you do if you suspect you may have gastric cancer? How to prepare for medical consultation? Here is an introduction for you.
Primary assessment of whether you are at high risk for stomach cancer
The target population for gastric cancer screening in China is defined as those who are no younger than 40 years old and meet any of the following criteria:
- People in areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer;
- People with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection;
- Precancerous diseases of the stomach such as chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric polyp, post-surgical residual stomach, hypertrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, etc.
- First-degree relatives (children, parents, siblings) of patients with gastric cancer;
- The presence of other risk factors for gastric cancer (such as intake of high salt, pickled diet, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, etc.).
in the past;
If you determine that you are in one of these high-risk groups, it is recommended that you seek regular medical care for gastric cancer screening, even if you have no symptoms.
See your doctor when you see the signs
Since there are no obvious symptoms in the early stages of gastric cancer, only some patients experience non-specific symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort and postprandial fullness, which are often overlooked by patients. If you are in a high-risk group and experience these symptoms, it is recommended to seek medical attention to rule out gastric cancer:
- Over 40 years of age with upper gastrointestinal symptoms without biliary tract disease;
- Presentation of unexplained black stools or vomiting of blood;
- Significant weight loss over a short period of time;
- Unexplained anemia;
- Pre-existing history of ulcer or chronic gastric pain and discomfort, with recent regularity and marked change in nature or progressive worsening of pain that cannot be relieved by oral medication.
Visit process and precautions
Depending on the local hospital, patients can usually start with a visit to the gastroenterology department to schedule a gastroscopy. If the diagnosis of gastric cancer has been previously clarified by gastroscopy, patients can seek further diagnosis and treatment directly in the Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology or General Surgery.
Patients should bring all previous gastroscopies, gastrointestinal barium meals, abdominal CT, pathology reports or other examination reports and imaging data for the physician’s judgment and comparison.
At the time of the visit, the patient should give a detailed description of the development of the disease and previous visits to the doctor, such as the regularity of the pain and the nature and extent of the pain. The doctor will take a history and perform a physical examination, and the patient should cooperate with the doctor as requested.
The doctor will usually order a gastroscopy and other tests (e.g., blood tests for routine blood, hepatitis markers, tumor markers, gastric enhancement CT, etc.) depending on the patient’s condition.
Gastroscopy is usually a “required” test to diagnose gastric cancer. It allows the physician to understand the location, shape, size, and extent of the lesion, and to obtain a specimen of suspicious tissue for pathology to further determine the nature of the lesion. Preparation for gastroscopy must be done according to the doctor’s recommendations. The report is usually available on the same day, but if the lesion is clamped and sent for pathology during the gastroscopy, there is a waiting period before the pathology report is available.
After all tests, including gastroscopy, are completed and the report is retrieved, the patient will need to consult further with the physician. If the diagnosis of gastric cancer is clear and surgical resection is possible, the patient can go through the admission process to seek further treatment.
To diagnose gastric cancer, doctors usually use a variety of tests, during which patients should not be anxious and should follow the doctor’s instructions to receive standardized tests.