Stomach Cancer Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Gastric cancer is a type of cancer or a malignancy found in the stomach. Gastric cancer is the fourth leading cause of death from cancer worldwide.
The stomach basically has four layers – namely the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. Generally, cancer will grow in the mucosal layer and then can grow deeper into other layers.
The mucosa itself is the lining of the stomach where cells secrete various types of fluids. Enzymes, stomach acids, and hormones are several types of fluids found in the mucosa.
There are several types of stomach cancer, namely:
- Adenocarcinoma. This is the most common type of stomach cancer. Derived from mucosal cells, namely lining the inside of the stomach.
- Lymphoma. Derived from immune cells that can be found in the stomach wall.
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST). Derived from the interstitial cells of Cajal which can be found in the stomach wall.
- Carcinoid tumors. Found in hormone-producing cells in the stomach.
- Other types that are quite rare are squamous cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and leiomyosarcoma.
Symptom
Symptoms of gastric cancer that are often found include:
- decreased appetite and weight
- abdominal pain or discomfort in the area above the navel
- a feeling of fullness in the stomach after eating (even just a little)
- burning sensation in the stomach
- bloating and burping
- nausea, vomiting with or without blood
- difficulty swallowing
- swelling of the abdomen or collection of fluid in the abdomen
- bleeding and anemia (can cause black bowel movements)
- yellowish skin or whites of the eyes (in advanced cases)
Reason
The exact cause of stomach cancer is not known. However, there are several known risk factors, namely:
- H Pylori infection
- smoking habit
- age > 55 years
- male gender
- A blood type
- a diet high in salt, pickles, processed food, red meat, and low in fiber
- have a family history of stomach cancer
- some medical conditions: such as peptic ulcer, pernicious anemia
- history of gastric surgery
Diagnosis
Determining the diagnosis of stomach cancer is done through a series of medical interviews or history taking to ask about symptoms. In addition, a physical examination is also needed to feel for lumps or enlarged lymph nodes.
Investigations that can be done are blood tests. In gastric cancer often found anemia due to bleeding. Then endoscopy, which is an examination with a tube at the end of which there is a camera. With this examination, the inside of the stomach can be seen properly.
In addition, a biopsy can also be done to examine suspicious tissue samples. Other tests that can be done are endoscopic ultrasound, barium meal X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, and laparoscopy.
Treatment
Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the size, location and type of cancer. However, the common cancer treatments are:
- surgery
- chemotherapy
- radiation therapy
- immunotherapy