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.
