Stomach Cancer

Introduction

The muscular bag that has a capacity of about 1 liter or quart is called the stomach. The stomach lies along the digestive tract, between the small intestine and the esophagus. It is the stomach that serves as a reservoir of food. The inner walls of the stomach are made up of glands that secrete digestive enzymes and acids.

Adenocarcinoma is the most known form of cancer that affects the stomach. This cancer arises in the glands that are located in the innermost layer of the stomach. The tumor tends to spread through the wall of the stomach from where it finds its way into the adjoining organs such as the pancreas, spleen and the lymph nodes. From the blood stream and lymph nodes, this tumor can spread to other organs.

Signs and Symptoms

An early sign of stomach cancer is microscopic internal bleeding. This is usually detected by tests that check the stool for blood. If the bleeding causes the loss of too many healthy red blood cells then you may feel tired. The early signs of stomach cancer may cause heartburn and abdominal pain. Stomach cancer in it’s advanced stages display these signs and symptoms:

• Vomiting after meals
• Weakness
• Unplanned weight loss
• Black stool
• Vomiting of blood
• Pain in the abdomen which further increases after eating
• Discomfort in the upper or middle region of the abdomen
• A feeling of fullness after meals, despite consuming less than normal

Having any of these signs and symptoms is not a sure indication of stomach cancer because other common conditions also display similar symptoms.

Diagnosis

The doctor may recommend one or more of the following diagnostic tests to help diagnose stomach cancer and rule out other possibilities.

Upper Endoscopy
This is the procedure that is used to allow the doctor to see any abnormalities in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract that is not visible in an X-ray. For this procedure, the doctor will insert a thin, flexible, lighted tube into your mouth and into your esophagus, stomach and the first part of the intestine. To ensure that you are comfortable during the procedure you will usually receive intravenous medication and your throat will be numbed. If the doctor finds a suspicious tissue, a small sample will be removed and sent to the lab for examination by a pathologist.

Stomach X-ray (barium upper GI series)
In this test, to examine the esophagus, stomach and the first part of your intestine, your doctor will use a series of X-rays. A thick liquid (barium) will have to be consumed before the test. This liquid coats the lining of the stomach so that it is clearly visible on the X-rays. You may also be asked to swallow a gas-producing liquid or pill (sodium bicarbonate). You can eat normally after the test. The only thing the you will be required to do is drink plenty of water to help flush out the barium from your body.

Once the stomach cancer is diagnosed, the doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the extent of the disease and the best course of action available. The tests may include:

Endoscopic Ultrasound
This test is used to determine whether cancer had spread into the walls of the stomach, nearby tissues or lymph nodes.

Computerized Tomography (CT)
This test is used to check the spread of cancer outside your stomach – to organs like the liver and the lungs. Split-second computer processing and x-ray beams are used in this test to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the internal organs.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRI uses a power magnetic field and radio waves to produce cross-sectional images of the body. Not only this, this test is also used to know the spread of cancer beyond your stomach.

Chest X-ray
This test is used to check whether cancer has spread to the lungs. This test is not as sensitive as a CT scan.

Treatment

The treatment for cancer depends on a number factors such as the location of cancer, how advanced it is, the overall health of the person and own preference.
Some of the treatment options for stomach cancer include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy (Radiotherapy)
• Antibiotics

Prevention

Some of the steps that help reduce the risk of Stomach cancer are:

• Avoiding nitrites and nitrates
• Limiting smoked, pickled and heavily salted food
• Not smoking
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Limiting red meet