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Stomach cancer: causes, symptoms and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Stomach cancer is characterized by the abnormal growth of malignant cells in the stomach lining. The most common type of tumor in this area is adenocarcinoma, which can spread to other neighboring organs such as the esophagus or duodenum, and even reach the blood vessels and affect the liver peritoneum, lungs, bones, or the skin.

Until approximately 30 years ago, stomach cancer was considered a disease with a high mortality rate, but early detection has managed to reduce this figure over the past few decades. This FastlyHealarticle explains stomach cancer’s causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Causes of stomach cancer

This disease is considered much more common in the population of eastern Asia, South America, and eastern Europe than in others, such as the United States. Generally, stomach cancer affects men between the ages of 50 and 60.

Many risk factors can predispose us to suffer from this disease. Some of them are the following:

  • I suffer from H. pylori stomach infection, chronic gastritis, pernicious anemia, intestinal metaplasia, or gastric polyps.
  • Eat a diet rich in salt, smoked foods, and a few fruits and vegetables.
  • Have a family history of stomach cancer.
  • Being of advanced age and being a boy.
  • Smoke tobacco.

Symptoms of stomach cancer

The initial symptoms of this disease are usually not very specific, which generally causes the diagnosis to be delayed for a few months. In the early stages of stomach cancer, the following symptoms may appear:

  • Stomach ache.
  • Mild nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Heartburn.
  • I am feeling abdominal bloating after eating.

As the disease progresses, more severe symptoms such as these may appear :

  • Blood in the stool or black stools.
  • Vomiting
  • Involuntary weight loss
  • Pain in the stomach.
  • Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice).
  • Accumulation of fluids in the abdomen (ascites).
  • Swallowing difficulties
  • Excessive belching.
  • Weakness and fatigue

In the prolonged presence of any of the first symptoms described, you should go to the doctor to be examined. However, many of them also appear with other pathologies such as a virus or a stomach ulcer, so they do not always indicate that there is cancer.

Stomach cancer treatment

When it comes to diagnosing stomach cancer, they can be done from physical exams and blood counts to radiology, endoscopy, or biopsy. Once the disease is detected, treatment will largely depend on the stage of the tumor and the patient’s general health.

The earlier the cancer is detected, the better the chances of recovery; however, the mildness of symptoms in the early stages means that most cases are seen at a more advanced stage.

It is considered that surgery (gastrectomy) is the most effective treatment when the patient heal, to increase their survival and ensure the quality of later life. In addition, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can also help improve symptoms and ensure cure.

Cancer can be tried to alleviate the discomfort if the diagnosis is made at a very advanced stage, but a cure is very unlikely. The same will occur when surgery cannot be performed on the patient or if the tumor has spread outside the stomach.

Stomach cancer prevention

Even though certain risk factors are unavoidable and greatly influence the development of this disease, it is interesting to take into account some tips that can reduce the chances of suffering from it:

  • I eat a healthy diet, balanced and rich in fruits and vegetables, especially with good vitamin C.
  • Avoid very salty or smoked foods.
  • Do not smoke or consume alcohol in excess.
  • Perform periodic check-ups if you suffer from stomach conditions such as gastric ulcers, allowing the early detection of cancer if it exists.
  • Also, carry out regular medical check-ups if you have undergone gastric surgery.
  • Treat H. pylori infections correctly.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Stomach cancer: causes, symptoms and treatment , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .

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