Stomach Cancer - Complete Overview of It


Stomach cancer, like cancer of other body parts, occurs when healthy cells in the stomach start growing abnormally and go out of control. While a cancerous tumor can spread to other parts of the body, a benign tumor can grow but will not spread. Cancer can start in any part of the stomach and spread to other parts.

Stomach cancer develops slowly over the years. Pre-cancerous changes which often occur first in the inner lining of the stomach may cause no symptoms and remain undetected. Cancers occurring in different parts of the stomach have different symptoms and different outcomes. The location also affects the line of treatment followed by the doctors.

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Some of the early symptoms of stomach cancer are as follows:

  • Difficulty In Swallowing Food 
  • Feeling Bloated After Meals
  • Frequent Burping
  • Heartburn
  • Indigestion 
  • Pain In The Stomach
  • Trapped Wind
  • Vomiting, Which May Contain Blood

People with the following symptoms are at a higher risk of developing stomach cancer:

  • Dysphagia Or Difficulty In Swallowing
  • Indigestion
  • Unexpected Weight Loss 
  • Vomiting 
  • Anemia
  • Fatigue 
  • Breathlessness

The following signs and symptoms become apparent in advanced stages of cancer:

  • A Buildup Of Fluid In The Stomach
  • Fatigue
  • A Weight Loss
  • Anemia
  • Loss Of Appetite
  • Black Stools Containing Blood

Causes of Stomach Cancer

In any individual, when the structure of DNA changes, it can disturb the instructions that control cell growth. This may cause cells to behave and grow abnormally.

Cells that should die may not be able to do so and new cells may be produced too rapidly or in an uncontrollable way. The exact causes of stomach cancer are not yet known and studies are underway to find out why only a few people develop stomach cancer. Cancer specialist in India and abroad are carrying out research and studies to find more about the causes of stomach cancer and how to best treat it. 

Risk factors linked to stomach cancer include:

  • Certain medical conditions
  • Smoking
  • Infection
  • Family history
  • Consuming foods which contain aflatoxin fungus
  • High consumption of salted fish, salty foods, smoked meats, and pickles
  • Surgery of the stomach or a part of the body that affects the stomach

Stomach Cancer Treatment

The line of treatment that will be followed by doctors would depend on several factors, such as the severity of cancer, age of the patient and his prevailing health conditions. Stomach cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, Immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and medications. 

Fast facts on stomach cancer

Here we list a few key points about stomach cancer: 

  • Stomach cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
  • 723,000 deaths are caused by stomach cancer each year worldwide. It is the fifth most common cancer worldwide.
  • The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma of the stomach. In this type, the cancer develops in the outer lining of the stomach called mucosa. 

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