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Did you know that stomach cancer makes up around 1.5% of all new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the US? Globally, over one million people are diagnosed every year, with nearly 800,000 dying. Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and is found more often in men than in women. But what are the causes and symptoms of this type of cancer, and how is it treated?Click through and learn more about stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer is a cancer that develops from the lining of the stomach.
Early symptoms of stomach cancer may include heartburn, or acid reflux.
Another early indicator is trouble with swallowing, a condition known as dysphagia.
Feeling or being sick is a common complaint. But it can also indicate something more serious. Nausea is another possible early symptom of stomach cancer. Vomiting blood is a real red flag.
Regular indigestion, burping a lot, and feeling full after eating only a small meal are all potential signs that something is wrong.
Early symptoms of stomach cancer can extend to a loss of appetite, or losing weight without trying to.
Discomfort or pain in the top half of the stomach region can indicate the onset of stomach cancer. A lump at the tip of your tummy should always be investigated.
Feeling tired or weak, or having no energy—perhaps as a result of having too few red blood cells (anemia)—is a telltale sign that something is up. Many of these symptoms are indicative of other disorders, such as a viral infection or an ulcer. But it's essential to be checked by a doctor if your symptoms change, get worse, or don't feel right to you.
While anyone can get stomach cancer, you're more likely to develop the disease if you are over the age of 50 and male. According to a study conducted by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute for Technology, this discrepancy is rooted in basic biological differences between men and women.
Long-term infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can increase your chances of developing stomach cancer.
Seemingly unrelated stomach conditions including gastroesophageal reflux disease can promote the onset of stomach cancer.
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed after it's been damaged. Left unchecked, the condition can also be a factor in the development of cancer.
If you have a brother, sister, or parent who had stomach cancer, the risk of developing the disease yourself increases.
Shed the kilos, lose the pounds. Dropping weight is a win-win way to deter the onset of numerous medical conditions, including cancer.
Reducing your alcohol intake can help prevent all sorts of cancers. In fact, alcohol use is one of the most important preventable risk factors for cancer, along with tobacco use and excess body weight.
Eating at least five portions of a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables every day is a healthy habit to adopt, and your stomach will be better for it.
Lower your intake of red and processed meat, beef and lamb for example, together with ham, bacon, and salami.
You'll likely be referred to a gastroenterologist who'll perform a test called a gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy). It looks for any problems in your stomach, including cancer.
A small camera in the endoscope will spy any irregularities. If an abnormal area is identified, a biopsy will be performed where a small sample of cells are collected for analysis under laboratory conditions.
Catching any cancer early often allows for more treatment options. But being told you have the disease can be distressful and overwhelming. Doctors will carry out further exams and tests to determine if it has spread, and, if so, how far. This process is called staging.
You may need an ultrasound scan of the stomach. This helps doctors determine how far the cancer has spread into the stomach, and whether other organs are affected.
If you've been diagnosed with stomach cancer, your cancer care team will discuss your treatment options with you. Stomach cancer is often treatable, but it can be a difficult process.
Treatment usually includes surgery and chemotherapy. Targeted drug therapy may also be employed when standard chemo medicines don't work.
Immunotherapy is another option in the fight against stomach cancer. It involves the use of medicines to help a person's own immune system find and destroy cancer cells more effectively.
Radiotherapy can be combined with chemotherapy to help stop the cancer returning. This type of treatment is also used to help control and improve the symptoms for advanced cancer.
Ultimately, treatment choices are based on the extent of the cancer. According to Cancer.Net—and referencing the five-year US survival rate, which tells you what percent of people live at least five years after the cancer is found—if the cancer is diagnosed and treated before it has spread outside the stomach, the five-year survival rate is 70%. If it has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the rate is 32%. And if the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body (metastatic cancer), the five-year survival rate is 6%. Approximately 36% of people are diagnosed at this late stage.
It is important to remember that statistics on survival rates for stomach cancer patients are estimates. For example, a patient's lifestyle and overall health can prolong survival. And survival rates for both men and women vary depending on age at diagnosis, with studies showing that the older you are, the less likely you are to survive for five years.
See also: Rising colon cancer in young adults: key signs to look out for
Do you know the warning signs of stomach cancer?
Understand the causes, symptoms, and treatments of this common disease
HEALTH Illness
Did you know that stomach cancer makes up around 1.5% of all new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the US? Globally, over one million people are diagnosed every year, with nearly 800,000 dying. Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and is found more often in men than in women. But what are the causes and symptoms of this type of cancer, and how is it treated?Click through and learn more about stomach cancer.