STOMACH CANCER

Usually stomach (gastric) cancer starts in the lining of the stomach, growing slowly over the course of several years and causing few if any symptoms.

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Types of stomach cancer

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Most people (up to 95 percent) develop a stomach cancer called adenocarcinoma, which starts in the tissues that make up the stomach lining.

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There are three types of adenocarcinoma:

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• Noncardia (Distal) Stomach Cancer

• Proximal Stomach Cancer

• Diffuse Stomach Cancer

Symptoms for stomach cancer

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Some symptoms that could be caused by stomach cancer when it’s in the early stages include: constant stomach pain, indigestion, or discomfort, heartburn, bloating, especially after eating, mild nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue.

As stomach cancer becomes more advanced, the symptoms become more prominent and noticeable. 

They can include: unexplained or unintentional weight loss, vomiting after meals, stomach pain, especially after meals, trouble swallowing, weakness, belching (burping), fluid buildup around the stomach (called ascites), the development of a yellow tint to the skin or the whites of the eyes (called jaundice), blood tests that show anemia, a persistent stomach ulcer.

Risk Factors for stomach cancer

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Risks that you can control: your diet and lifestyle choices can play a role in the risk for developing this cancer, for example. Using tobacco and drinking a lot of alcohol can increase your risk, as can a diet high in salted, smoked, or pickled foods.

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Some studies also indicate that a diet low in a mineral called selenium, which is present in various nuts, fish, and meats, can increase your risk for the disease.

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Risks that you can´t control: illnesses that lower the level of acid in your stomach can increase your risk of developing gastric cancer, infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and if you have close relatives with the illness.

Diagnosis for stomach cancer

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It’s important that we are able to accurately diagnose and stage your stomach cancer to determine the best treatment approach for you.

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We will use one of the following tests to diagnose stomach cancer: endoscopy or barium x-ray.

Treatment for stomach cancer

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Stomach cancer continues to become more treatable thanks to improvements in staging the disease, along with advances in surgical technology and expanding recognition of the different types of gastric cancer. 

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Surgery (gastrectomy) is the most common treatment approach, especially when the illness is at an early stage. For many people with gastric cancer, minimally invasive surgical techniques provide the best option since they tend to lead to fewer complications, shorter recovery times, less need for pain relief, and reduced risk that the cancer will return compared with open surgeries.