Stomach cancer also called gastric cancer starts in the stomach that grows slowly and usually develops over a year or longer.
Stomach cancer stages depend on how far it has spread.
It can be localized when there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the stomach.
It can be regional when cancer has spread outside the stomach to nearby structures or lymph nodes.
And it can be distant when cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, such as the liver.
Gastric cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide and around two-thirds of all cases occur in developing countries.
Most gastric cancers are adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma starts from a single cell. Adenocarcinoma is a common cancer of the digestive system.
There are two types of gastric adenocarcinoma based on its anatomical location:
- Proximal adenocarcinomas.
- Distal adenocarcinomas.
Is stomach cancer fatal?
Yes, if it is not diagnosed and treated at early stages.
Stomach cancer is often not diagnosed until it has spread to the lymph nodes and other organs. In advanced stages,more than 45 out of 100 people will survive their cancer for 1 year or more.
Stage1 stomach cancer is curable with either subtotal gastrectomy i.e.removal of part of the stomach or with total gastrectomy i.e.removal of the entire stomach.
Sometimes lymph nodes are removed as well.
How do stomach cancer symptoms start?
Stomach cancer can present itself in several ways such as,
- Change in appetite
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Feeling of bloating after eating
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Stomach pain
- Abdominal pain
- Sudden weight loss
Who are at risk ?
Stomach cancer risk is increased in people who mostly include large amounts of food that are preserved by salting such as salted meat and fish, pickled vegetables in their diet. Eating charcoaled or grilled and processed meats regularly appears to increase risk of stomach cancers.
In India ,the highest incidence of stomach cancer is found in the south area.
South Indians specifically suffered from stomach cancer because of their dietary habits which mostly include high levels of salt and processed meat.
Causes of stomach cancer:
- Family History: One of the most important factors to be believed for the development of gastric cancer.
- Genetics: Specific mutations in genes have been identified in a large percentage of gastric cancers.
- Geographic location: The incidence of gastric cancer also varies dramatically by geographic location.Race as well as sex affect the risk of disease development.
- Behavioral and Environmental Factors: Alcohol consumption,high dose radiation exposure shown to be associated with stomach cancer.
- Helicobacter pylori infection: A common bacteria that can also cause stomach ulcers and subsequently increase risk of cancer.
- Factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer include gastroesophageal reflux.
i.e. Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus.
How to Diagnose Stomach cancer?
Early detection is crucial for improving outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.
Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms may not occur at the early stages of the disease.
These tests can help in the diagnosis of gastric cancer:
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy.
- Complete Blood Count: Check for anemia.
- Stool test to check blood in stools.
Upper GI series. - Detection of morphologic characteristics includes mild elevation and shallow depression of the mucosa and areas of uneven surface.
- Flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE): It is an endoscopic technique that was developed to detect gastric diseases.
- Chromoendoscopy: This technique is useful in the determination of tumor extent.
How to Treat Stomach Cancer?
It’s possible to cure this disease with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Surgery helps to cure stomach cancer to get rid of cancerous tissue present in the digestive tract. Surgery to remove part of or the whole stomach is known as a gastrectomy. In some cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy improve the chance of a cure. Both therapies can also be used before surgery to help shrink the tumor and sometimes after surgery to help prevent cancer from returning.
Prevention of stomach cancer :
- Mass screening programming help in detecting diseases at early stages
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Avoid use of tobacco
- Adapt healthy lifestyle
- And maintain healthy weight
Believe in yourself.
Success can be achieved with extraordinary efforts.
