Contents
In this article, we will take a look at:
- What is stomach cancer?
- How does stomach cancer occur?
- Who is prone to stomach cancer?
- Symptoms of stomach cancer
- Diagnosis of stomach cancer
- Complications of a stomach cancer
- Treatment for stomach cancer
You can click on any of the links above to navigate to the section of your interest.
What is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer or gastric cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the stomach. It is a relatively rare type of cancer and patients seldom show any symptoms in the early phases, thereby making it one of the most challenging malignancies to diagnose in stage 1.
There are four principal types of stomach cancer- adenocarcinomas, lymphoma, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST) and carcinoid tumour.
Adenocarcinoma
It is the most common type of stomach cancer, approximately 90-95 per cent of gastric cancer falls under this category. Here, the cells in the innermost lining of the stomach or mucosa multiply abnormally to form a tumour.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma generally affects the immune system of an individual. In some cases, this type of cancer develops on the walls of the stomach.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour (GIST)
It is a rare form of stomach cancer which starts in the interstitial cells of Cajal in the stomach. Here, some of the cells of a tumour are benign while others are malignant.
Carcinoid Tumour
This type of stomach cancer develops in the hormone-making cells of the stomach, and it is also known as Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors. The good thing about this cancer is it generally does not spread to other organs.
How does stomach cancer occur?
The exact cause of stomach cancer is not known till date. Oncologists believe that an infection of Helicobacter pyroli can be a probable reason for the development of stomach cancer. It causes ulcers in the stomach which often become malignant in the future. In addition to this, gastritis (inflammation in the stomach), pernicious anaemia (a type of long-lasting anaemia), and polyps in the gut may also cause stomach cancer.
Like all other forms of cancer, Stomach Cancer has 4 stages.
Stage 0: In this stage, a collection of unhealthy cells develop in the inner lining of the patient’s stomach which has a higher probability of becoming malignant in the future.
Stage 1: Here, the patient already has a small malignant tumour on the inner lining of the stomach. The cancerous cells may spread to the nearby lymph nodes in stage 1.
Stage 2: In this stage, the malignant cells spread into the lymph nodes of the stomach as well as into the deeper layers of the stomach wall.
Stage 3: Now, the cancerous cells are present in all the layers of the stomach as well as in some of the adjacent organs like the spleen or colon.
Stage 4: This is the final stage of stomach cancer where the cancerous cells are present in many organs like liver, lungs and even brain.
Who is prone to stomach cancer?
People with the following risk factors are more prone to stomach cancer than others:
- History of gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD)
- Smoke tobacco
- Consume salty and smoked food
- Include fewer fruits and vegetables in the diet
- History of Helicobacter pyroli infection
- A family history of stomach cancer
- History of polyps and pernicious anaemia
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer? How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
The symptoms of stomach cancer include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Feeling full or bloated even after consuming small portions of food
- Persistent heartburn
- Unexplained weight loss
- Sever indigestion for an extended period
- Stomach pain, loss of appetite
- Bloody stool
- Jaundice
Diagnosis
Patients rarely show any symptoms in the early stages of stomach cancer. In most of the cases, by the time the oncologist diagnoses this diseases, the tumour has already reached the advanced stages. The doctor first physically examines the patient’s abdomen, to notice any irregularities, and he prescribes a thorough blood test, including the detection for H. pylori bacteria infection. If the blood test report indicates some abnormalities within the system, the oncologist advises further investigations like X-ray, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, PET CT scan and finally a biopsy. The biopsy can confirm or rule out the presence of stomach cancer.
What are the complications of a stomach cancer?
If stomach cancer progresses to advanced stages, then it may lead to many complications like:
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Gastric perforation
- Small Bowel Obstruction
What is the treatment for stomach cancer?
The cure for stomach cancer depends on how long the patient has been affected by the disease. If the oncologist diagnoses the malignancy in the Stage 0 or Stage 1, then surgery is the best option to make patient cancer free.
In Stage 2, the doctors proceed with an operation along with follow-up chemotherapy.
In stage 3, Chemotherapy is the main line of treatment. The doctors may also recommend complete gastrectomy to remove the entire stomach along with chemoradiation to manage the disease or reduce the discomforts.
In Stage 4, it is difficult to cure the disease. The doctors prescribe treatment to offer you relief from complications, like the placement of a stent to remove the blockage of GI tract, or gastric bypass surgery to create an alternate route for food passage around a tumour.
Questions answered by trusted doctors
Did you know?
Stomach cancer
According to NCBI, stomach cancer is one of the main causes of deaths in South India, due to high consumption of pickled, spicy and salty foods.
Prevention of Stomach Cancer
Regular exercise and quitting smoking reduces your chances of developing this disease.
Related videos
Related articles
Candida is a kind of fungus or to be more precise it’s a yeast which is a leading cause for a number of fungal infections.
The uncontrollable growth of anomalous and tumor in the oral cavity is what causes mouth cancer.
Ulcerative colitis is a type chronic disease, occurring in the large intestine. In this disease, inflammation occurs in the lining of the large intestine, further leading to the development of open sores or ulcers.