A comprehensive understanding of stomach cancer in one article

by Specialist

Stomach cancer begins when cancer cells form in the lining of the stomach, and the cancer cells grow slowly over many years to become malignant. If you know the symptoms caused by stomach cancer, patients and doctors may be able to detect it early, and early detection makes it easier to treat.

What causes stomach cancer?

It is not clear what causes cancer cells to grow in the stomach, but researchers have identified some factors that may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer.

H. pylori infection is an important risk factor that can cause ulcers. Gastritis, pernicious anemia, and some gastric polyps can also increase the risk of gastric cancer. In addition, the following factors may increase the risk of gastric cancer:

  • Smoking

  • Being overweight or obese

  • A diet that is smoked, pickled or high in salt

  • Surgical treatment of ulcers in the stomach

  • Blood type A

  • EB virus infection

  • Carrying a specific gene

  • Working in coal, metal, wood or rubber industries

  • Exposure to asbestos

Risk factors that may affect the occurrence of gastric cancer

Symptoms of gastric cancer

Stomach cancer may cause the following symptoms in its early stages:

  • Indigestion

  • Feeling bloated after eating

  • A feeling of heartburn

  • Mild nausea

  • Loss of appetite

Indigestion or heartburn after eating does not necessarily mean that you have stomach cancer. However, if these symptoms are more severe, you should seek medical attention. Your doctor will check for other risk factors and look for the cause.

As the stomach tumor grows, the following more serious symptoms may occur:

  • Stomach pain

  • Blood in the stool

  • Vomiting

  • Unexplained weight loss

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Yellowing of the sclera or skin

  • Stomach bloating

  • Constipation or diarrhea

  • Weakness or feeling tired

  • A feeling of heartburn

Early gastric cancer may send these “signals”< /div>

These symptoms suggest possible progressive gastric cancer

Diagnosis of gastric cancer

The doctor will perform a physical examination and take a medical history to find out if there are risk factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer or if there are family members with stomach cancer. Then, the patient may need to undergo some of the following tests.

  • Blood tests  to look for signs of cancer in the body.

  • Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy  The doctor puts a tiny camera down the throat through a thin flexible tube to look at the stomach.

  • Upper GI imaging  The patient will drink a white liquid called a barium meal. The liquid covers the lining of the stomach and shows up clearly on the X-ray.

  • CT scan  to show some structural details in the body.

  • Pathology biopsy  The doctor takes a small piece of tissue from the stomach and looks at it under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells. The doctor may take a biopsy for pathology during the endoscopy.

Diagnose gastric cancer, gastroscopy must be done

Procedure and result of upper GI barium meal

CT examination of gastric cancer and precautions

Treatment of gastric cancer

There are many treatment options for gastric cancer. The choice of which method depends mainly on the duration of the disease and the extent of tumor invasion, that is, the stage of the cancer.

  • Surgical treatment  The doctor may remove the stomach or adjacent tissue that has cancer infiltration. Surgery can remove the tumor and stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. If the stomach cancer is in a more advanced stage, your doctor may remove the entire stomach. Some tumors can prevent food from moving in and out of the stomach. In this case, surgery may be needed to place a stent to restore the flow of the digestive tract.

  • Chemotherapy  drugs can kill cancer cells or stop their growth. Chemotherapy drugs can be given orally or through a vein. Chemotherapy drugs may cause side effects, but your doctor will try to ease the side effects.

Side effects of gastric cancer chemotherapy and management

  • Radiotherapy  Radiotherapy can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Your doctor may use X-rays or other equipment to give radiation therapy to the location of the tumor.

  • Radiotherapy   Your doctor may use a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to shrink the tumor before surgery.

  • Targeted therapy  Targeted drugs generally kill only cancer cells, while chemotherapy and radiation kill healthy cells as well as cancer cells. As a result, targeted therapies typically have fewer side effects than other treatments.

Prevention of gastric cancer

  • Treating gastric infections  If you have an ulcer caused by H. pylori infection, you should be treated. Application of antibiotics can kill H. pylori and other medications can heal ulcers in the lining of the stomach, thus reducing the risk of stomach cancer.

  • Eating healthy  Fresh fruits and vegetables are high in fiber and vitamins, and eating them in large amounts can reduce the risk of cancer. Avoid eating too many foods that are high in salt, cured or smoked. Keep your weight at a healthy level. Being overweight or obese can also increase your risk of stomach cancer.

  • Non-smoking  If you smoke, your risk of stomach cancer increases 1-fold.

  • Watch your aspirin (Aspirin) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use  If you take aspirin daily for heart disease or use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for arthritis, consult your doctor about the effects of these drugs on your stomach.

H. pylori infection, how to deal with it?