Stomach Cancer

Stomach Cancer or Gastric cancer is the abnormal & uncontrolled growth of cells in the inner lining of the stomach that progresses into tumours. And if not detected & treated during the early stage, it spreads to other organs like the liver, lungs and pancreas.

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer:

Stomach cancer poses no symptoms in the early stages. It often goes undetected until it has spread to other parts of the stomach making the treatment more difficult.

In the later stages, stomach cancer may have the following symptoms:

• Bloating
• Trouble swallowing
• Feeling full even after small meals
• Nausea/vomiting
• Stomach ache, especially after meals
• Heartburn
• Bloody stools
• Jaundice or yellowing of eyes and skin
• Fatigue and weight loss
• In advanced stages, vomiting blood

Causes & Risk Factors of Stomach Cancer:

Cancer is the abnormal growth of cells that transforms into a tumour. Although it is not clear what causes stomach cancer, some risk factors potentially increase the probability of developing
stomach cancer.

They are:

• Family History
• Smoking
• Alcohol abuse
• Obesity
• Helicobacter Pylori Infection
• Stomach Polyps
• Repeated Oesophageal reflux
• Repeated gastritis (also known as stomach inflammation)
• Having more processed foods
• Having fewer fruits and vegetables
• Having more salty foods

Stomach cancer is more often seen in people above 50 years of age. Additionally, people who have a sedentary lifestyle may have an increased chance of getting stomach cancer

Diagnosis of Stomach Cancer:

For an accurate diagnosis of stomach cancer, a doctor may prescribe a group of tests which
includes:

• Blood Test
• Endoscopy
• Biopsy
• CT-Scan
• XRAY

Treatment of Stomach Cancer:

Treatment of stomach cancer depends on the severity of cancer

If the cancer is still in its initial stages i.e it is in the superficial layer, an endoscopy may be performed to remove the cancerous cells.

In case if cancer has spread beyond the superficial layer, surgery may be needed to get rid of the cancerous cells.

Sometimes a combination of radiation therapy and chemotherapy is also prescribed along with the above options to stop further growth of the cells.

Some drugs may as well be prescribed by your doctor

Prevention of Stomach Cancer:

Although not all cancers can be prevented, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. (This is applicable for other types of cancers, too)

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you are obese, seek a nutritionist’s help to reduce weight in
  a healthy manner
• Quit smoking
• Do not drink often and excessively
• Eat a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables
• Cut down the intake of salty, smoked and processed foods
• Exercise regularly