Gastric cancer

Stomach cancer or gastric cancer may develop in any part of the stomach and mainly begins in the cells of its inner layer. If left untreated, it spreads throughout the stomach and over time may metastasize and invade the surrounding lymph nodes and organs like esophagus, intestines, liver or pancreas. There are different types of gastric cancers such as, adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, carcinoid tumor, etc.

According to the cancer treatment center of America, research shows that some people are more prone to developing cancers of the stomach than other people. It is twice more common in men than women and mainly affects people aged 55 and older. Although it occurs among all races; African Americans are more susceptible to fall prey to this type of cancer than Caucasians. A larger number of cases are found in countries like Latin America, Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe, etc. A statement put forward by the National Cancer Institute states that in the U.S.A, around 21,000 people are diagnosed with gastric cancer each year. However, with the massive developments in the field of treatments for cancers, the incidence rates have fallen dramatically over the past half a decade.

Scientists claim that cultures and communities that generously use foods preserved by smoking, pickling, drying or salting, tend to be at a higher risk for developing stomach cancers. Although stomach ulcers are not considered as a risk factor, bacteria named Helicobacter Pylori that causes them, is. Other causes for cancer of the stomach include a positive family history, pernicious anemia, previous stomach surgeries, gastric atrophy, achlorodia, and excessive tobacco and alcohol consumption. As always, the first step towards prevention is minimizing and avoidance of the risk factors. Those factors that can be modified should be observed if present in a community, while patients with the non-modifiable factors should be screened early for a possible development of cancer.

Gastric cancer does not cause any specific symptoms and can be missed or mistaken as some other disease; a reason why it is diagnose after it has spread. Indigestion, abdominal pain and discomfort, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, bloating after meals, either diarrhea or constipation, appetite loss, are few vague symptoms. However, a patient with the cancer at advanced stage may also display fatigue, weakness, weight loss, blood in stool and/or vomit.

As is the case with all other cancers, the diagnosis for this cancer also depends on the patient’s general health and age, the type, stage and severity of the cancer. Biopsy remains the most authentic diagnostic procedure for most cancers. Other tests include endoscopy, ultrasound, x-ray, barium swallow, CT scan, MRI and PET scan. There is a 24% five-year survival rate after diagnosis for the patients; this rate can be increased to almost 61% if stomach cancer is detected before it spreads.

Gastric cancer treatment depends on the progress, spread, type and location of the tumor. it can be treated with surgery (gastrectomy, lymphadenectomy), radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, individually or in combination. New methods of treatment are being developed, including chemoprevention, multi drug chemotherapy combinations, targeted therapies and vaccines. Clinical trials are conducted, that test these methods in order to find a better and more efficient way to move towards a cure.