Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, occurs when cancerous cells form in the lining of the stomach. This type of cancer can be difficult to diagnose because it often doesn’t cause specific symptoms in its early stages.
Risk Factors:
- Age: Most people diagnosed are in their 60s and 70s.
- Gender: More common in men than women.
- Diet: Diets high in smoked, pickled, and salted foods; low in fruits and vegetables.
- Smoking and alcohol use.
- History of a Helicobacter pylori infection, a common stomach bacteria.
- Chronic stomach inflammation, long-term anemia, and stomach polyps.
- Family history of stomach cancer.
Symptoms:
- Early stages often have no symptoms.
- As cancer progresses: Indigestion or stomach discomfort, a bloated feeling after eating, mild nausea, loss of appetite, and heartburn.
- Advanced stages: Blood in stools, vomiting, weight loss, stomach pain, jaundice, ascites (fluid build-up in the abdomen), and trouble swallowing.
Diagnosis:
- Upper endoscopy (EGD) and biopsy are the main methods for diagnosis.
- Imaging tests like CT scans, PET scans, and endoscopic ultrasounds can help determine the extent of the cancer.
Staging:
- Staging is based on how deep the cancer penetrates the stomach wall, whether it has invaded nearby structures, and whether it has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs.
Treatment:
- Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach (gastrectomy) is a common treatment for early-stage cancer.
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to shrink the tumor or after surgery (adjuvant therapy) to destroy remaining cancer cells.
- Targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy are newer treatments that can be used in certain situations.
Prevention:
- Dietary changes, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol, and treating H. pylori infections can reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer.
Prognosis:
- The prognosis depends significantly on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis. Early detection improves the chance of successful treatment.
Stomach cancer is less common in the United States compared to other parts of the world, like Japan and Korea, partly due to differences in diet, smoking rates, and prevalence of H. pylori infection. Regular check-ups and paying attention to the body’s signals are important, especially for individuals with risk factors.