Stomach cancer

Factors/Causes of Stomach Cancer

1. Age: As you age, your chances of developing stomach cancer increase.
2. Gender: Men are twice as likely to develop stomach cancer as women.
3. Family history of stomach cancer.
4. Ethnicity: This condition is more common in Asians than in Caucasians, Europeans, and Americans.
5. Food, especially pickled, salted, and smoked foods, may increase your risk of stomach cancer. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables may help reduce your risk.
6. Helicobacter pylori infection, a bacteria that can cause inflammation and ulcers in the stomach, may also increase your risk of developing stomach cancer.
7. People who have had gastric bypass surgery or have underlying medical conditions, such as certain types of anemia or chronic gastritis, are at increased risk.
8. Occupation, especially those exposed to dust and certain chemicals, increases your risk.
9. Lifestyle: Smoking, alcohol consumption, and a low intake of fruits and vegetables.
10. Obesity: Men who are overweight are at increased risk of developing stomach cancer. However, there is no evidence of a relationship between obesity and stomach cancer in women.
11. People with blood type A are at 20% higher risk than other blood types.
12. People who have had gastric bypass surgery

What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?

• Feelings of indigestion or abdominal discomfort
• Bloating after eating
• Mild nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Heartburn. If the condition progresses, symptoms may include:
• Abdominal discomfort, particularly in the upper and middle abdomen
• Blood in the stool
• Vomiting, which may include blood
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain or bloating after eating
• Fatigue

How many stages are there of stomach cancer?

1. Stages of stomach cancer and treatment. Treatment of stomach cancer depends on the size and location of the tumor, whether it has spread to other organs, and the patient’s general health. A team of doctors, including gastroenterologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologists, consult together to determine the best treatment plan.

2. Early gastric cancer refers to cancer that is confined to the upper lining of the stomach. It usually has no symptoms, but is detected during a gastrostomy examination.

Food Cancer Screening Methods

History Taking and Physical Examination

1. Contrast Powder Swallowing: This test involves having the patient swallow a liquid mixed with a starch-like contrast material that coats the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Periodic X-rays are then taken, allowing the physician to visualize any tumors or other abnormalities.

2. Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: This involves assessing gastric lesions. If any abnormalities or suspicious findings are detected, a biopsy may be performed.

3. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: This examination, using an ultrasound-equipped endoscope, helps physicians determine the depth of stomach cancer or its spread to nearby organs.

4. Lung X-ray: This scan examines the lungs for abnormalities and possible spread of the disease to the lungs.

5. Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: This scan provides three-dimensional images of internal organs, allowing physicians to visualize the location and spread of the disease in greater detail than with a standard X-ray.

Stomach Cancer Treatment

Stomach cancer treatment involves a team of physicians from various disciplines, including surgeons, radiologists, and oncologists, who work together to develop the best and most appropriate treatment plan for each individual patient. Factors that influence the doctor’s treatment options include:

• size, location, and characteristics of the cancer cells
• stage and spread of the cancer
• overall health of the patient

Treatment approaches are divided into four main categories:

1. Surgery

2. Chemotherapy

3. Radiation therapy

4. Gastroscopy

Preparing for a Gastric Cancer Examination

Patients must abstain from food and water for at least 6-8 hours. The examination typically lasts no more than 5 minutes. The doctor will use pain-relieving techniques during the endoscopy, including spraying anesthesia into the throat to desensitize the area before the endoscopy begins. However, many patients may still experience some discomfort even after their throats are numb. The anesthesiologist team will administer a short-acting sedative to help them fall asleep briefly during the examination.