1. Sudden Weight Loss:
2. Constant Heartburn:
3. Vomiting and Nausea:
Vomiting and nausea are common health issues with various causes. However, if you experience blood in your vomit and persistent nausea without any apparent reason, it is crucial to consult a doctor for an examination, as these may be signs of stomach cancer.
4. Loss of Appetite:
Loss of appetite is common in many illnesses, including stomach cancer. You may experience a sudden lack of desire to eat and persistent abdominal discomfort.
Even when you try to eat, you may not feel hungry, despite consuming very little.
5. Bleeding in Stool:
Persistent bleeding in the stool and changes in the digestive system are significant indicators of stomach cancer. This can be due to thickened lumps in the stomach's inner and outer layers, affecting the intestines and causing blood during bowel movements.
If you observe this symptom persisting or recurring, it is important to see a doctor. After conducting tests, the disease can be identified and timely treatment can be initiated.
6. Unnecessary Frequent Bloating:
Bloating is a common issue, with many people experiencing it after eating or without any apparent reason.
If you consistently experience bloating and a heavy feeling in your stomach that disrupts your daily routine, it's important to pay attention to your health.
Should your efforts to alleviate bloating prove futile, it's advisable to consult a gastroenterologist, as persistent bloating can be a sign of stomach cancer.
7. Excessive Tiredness:
It's common to feel extreme fatigue and a lack of energy. In the case of stomach cancer, there may be a loss of red blood cells, leading to anemia and a battle against bacteria in the body.
This can result in a gradual onset of fatigue and stress, making it difficult to focus on work and everyday tasks. It's crucial not to disregard these symptoms and to seek expert advice promptly.
8. Feeling Full After Small Meals:
A sudden decrease in appetite and feeling full after consuming little food can be concerning, especially if your diet was previously satisfactory. If this sensation persists, it's important to consider it a health concern.
9. Stomach Pain:
It's crucial not to overlook this symptom and to seek a medical diagnosis.
Causes of Stomach Cancer:
Your medical history might shed light on the causes of cancer, but certain lifestyle factors also contribute:
- Obesity
- H. pylori infection
- Excessive consumption of processed foods
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- High meat intake
- Family history of cancer
Types of Stomach Cancer:
1. Adenocarcinoma:
The most common type of stomach cancer is Adenocarcinoma, which originates in the glandular cells of the stomach's inner lining. The stomach is comprised of five sections: the cardia, fundus, body, antrum, and pylorus, with cancers typically forming in the innermost lining.
1. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST):
These tumors can develop anywhere in the digestive tract but are most commonly found in the stomach. GISTs may be benign or malignant and arise from the multiplication of interstitial cells of Cajal.
2. Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors:
These cancers originate in the hormone-producing cells of the stomach. There are three types of Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors: Type I, II, and III ECL-cell carcinoids, with Type III being the most severe, leading to carcinoid syndrome characterized by symptoms such as flushing, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bronchial constriction, and valve dysfunction.
3. Lymphoma:
Lymphocytes, which are crucial for immunity and combating infections, can become cancerous, leading to lymphoma. This type of cancer can be located in the stomach's wall.
4. Other rare stomach cancers:
The stomach can be the origin of various skin cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and leiomyosarcoma.
Stomach Cancer Stages:
The stages of stomach cancer are determined by the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other organs such as the lungs, brain, and liver.
There are four stages of stomach cancer, and a basic description of these stages is as follows:
Stage 0:
Cancerous cells are present in the inner lining or are developing within the inner layers.
Stages 1 and 2:
Cancerous cells have begun to grow through all five layers of the stomach wall.
Stage 3:
The cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage 4:
Cancer has metastasized to other organs such as the lungs, liver, brain, and the stomach's protective lining.
The staging process includes:
Medical Staging:
This encompasses all necessary examinations, tests, and biopsies.
Pathological Staging:
This involves the surgical removal of the tumor and determining the extent of stomach cancer.
Post-Therapy:
This indicates how the patient is responding to radiation or chemotherapy.
Restaging:
This assesses the best treatment options if the cancer recurs post-treatment.
Detecting Stomach Cancer:
Once gastric cancer is confirmed, the next step is to determine the disease's stage to devise a treatment plan and analyze survival rates.
Endoscopy:
A camera-equipped tube is inserted through the throat into the stomach to look for any abnormal growths, and tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.
The tissue is cultured under laboratory conditions to determine if the growth is benign or malignant.
Imaging Tests:
CT scans and barium X-rays are conducted to detect gastric cancer.
PET:
Positron emission tomography (PET) uses a radioactive substance to create images of organs and tissues, helping to ascertain the cancer stage.
Laparoscopy:
A small incision is made in the abdomen to examine tumor growth.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): A dye is injected into the veins to assess the tumor size.
Stomach Cancer Prognosis:
Early diagnosis and treatment can result in a 5-year survival rate for 69% of individuals with cancer.
If the cancer has spread through muscle layers, connective tissues, surrounding organs, and lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate drops to 31%.
If the cancer has metastasized to distant parts of the body, the survival rate is approximately 5%.
Stomach Cancer Treatment:
The treatment for gastric cancer varies depending on the disease stage and infection spread. Options may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medications.
Surgical procedures are also conducted to remove part or all of the stomach. Surgeons may perform endoscopic mucosal resection, subtotal gastrectomy, or total gastrectomy.
In radiotherapy, radioactive rays are used to destroy cancer cells. Doctors may combine radiation therapy with chemotherapy as part of the treatment. Immunotherapy and targeted drugs are also commonly prescribed.
Adenocarcinoma is the most prevalent type of stomach cancer. It arises from the abnormal proliferation of cells and is classified according to the TNM system (Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis).
Symptoms of gastric cancer may include a loss of appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and unintentional weight loss. Diagnostic procedures such as CT scans, PET scans, MRIs, and biopsies are utilized to determine the stage of the disease and guide treatment planning.
Treatment options may encompass chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, immunotherapy, and other targeted drugs.
In conclusion:
Stomach cancer remains a relatively uncommon disease, yet it has impacted thousands in the past year.
While the symptoms are not unique and could be attributed to various causes, it is imperative not to dismiss any health concerns, as negligence could pose a serious risk to one's life.
If detected in its early stages, stomach cancer is treatable; however, once it metastasizes to other body parts, it becomes much more challenging to overcome.
Source: righthomeremedies.com
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