Gastric Cancer
What is gastric cancer?
Cancer cells form in the lining of the stomach.
Almost all gastric cancers are adenocarcinomas :cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids:. Other types of gastric cancer are gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and lymphomas.
Infection with bacteria called H. pylori is a common cause of gastric cancer.
It is only found in advanced stages due to no signs or symptoms
Stats
Percent Surviving 5 Years 30.4%
26,370 new cases in 2016 (1.6% of all cancers)
10,730 Deaths in 2016 (1.8% of all cancers)
Symtoms
In the early stages of gastric cancer, the following symptoms may occur:
Indigestion and stomach discomfort.
A bloated feeling after eating.
Mild nausea.
Loss of appetite.
Heartburn.
In more advanced stages of gastric cancer, the following signs and symptoms may occur:
Blood in the stool.
Vomiting.
Weight loss for no known reason.
Stomach pain.
Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin).
Ascites (buildup of fluid in the abdomen).
Trouble swallowing.
Screening
- Upper endoscopy: A thin, lighted tube is inserted through the mouth to look for abnormal areas in the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.
- Serum pepsinogen levels: A test that measures the levels of pepsinogen in the blood. Low levels of pepsinogen are a sign of chronic gastric atrophy which may lead to stomach cancer.
- Barium -meal photofluorography: A series of x-rays of the esophagus and stomach. The patient drinks a liquid that contains barium, a silver-white metallic compound, which coats the esophagus and stomach as it is swallowed. Photographs are taken of the x-ray images. The photographs are processed to make the organs easier to see and then made into a film. This makes it possible to see the motion of the organs while exposing the patient to less radiation.
Ways to prevent
Changing lifestyle or eating habits.
Avoiding things known to cause cancer.
Taking medicines to treat a precancerous condition or to keep cancer from starting.