Stomach cancer

What is stomach cancer?

The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and die. Sometimes, cells mutate (change) and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous (also called "malignant"), they can invade and kill your body's healthy tissues. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body. By contrast, noncancerous tumors (also called "benign") do not spread to other parts of the body.

Stomach cancer (also called “gastric cancer”) is the growth of cancer cells in the lining and wall of the stomach.


Who is at risk of getting stomach cancer?

Your chances of getting stomach cancer are higher if you have had a stomach infection caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. You are also more likely to get stomach cancer if you:

1.Are a man
2.Are older than 50 years of age
3.Have several close relatives who have had stomach cancer
4.Smoke cigarettes
5.Abuse alcohol
6.Eat a lot of pickled or salty foods
7.Are an African American, Hispanic American, Asian American or Pacific Islander

Can I prevent stomach cancer?

There is no way to prevent stomach cancer. However, you can help reduce your risk of getting stomach cancer by not drinking a lot of alcohol or smoking. Also, eat a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in foods such as oranges, grapefruit and broccoli.


What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?

Sometimes cancer can grow in the stomach for a long time before it causes symptoms. In the early stages, stomach cancer can cause the following symptoms:

1.Indigestion, stomach discomfort or heartburn
2.Nausea or loss of appetite
3.Feeling tired

When the cancer is larger, it can cause the following symptoms:

1.Blood in your stool
2.A bloated feeling after eating
3.Vomiting
4.Unexplained weight loss
5.Stomach pain

Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer. However, if you have any of these problems and they don’t go away, talk with your doctor. The earlier stomach cancer is found, the better the chances are that it can be cured.

How can my doctor tell if I have stomach cancer?

If your doctor suspects that you might have stomach cancer, he or she will look at your medical history and do a complete physical exam. Your doctor may want you to get an x-ray test of your stomach. For this test, you drink a liquid containing barium. Barium is a chalky substance that coats the lining of your stomach. This makes it easier for doctors to see on the x-ray.

Your doctor might use endoscopy (say: "in-dos-ko-pee") to try to see the tumor. For this exam, a thin, lighted tube is put into your mouth and passed down to your stomach. Your doctor may give you medicine before the test so that you feel no pain.

During endoscopy, your doctor might take a small piece of your stomach to check for cancer cells. This is called a biopsy sample. The sample is then sent to a lab where it is looked at under a microscope.

How is stomach cancer treated?

Treatment for stomach cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments. The choice of treatment depends on whether the cancer is just in the stomach or if it has spread to other places in the body. A person’s age and overall health will also affect the choice of treatment.

ULCERS

What is an ulcer?

Ulcers are sores on the lining of your digestive tract. Your digestive tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum (the first part of the intestines) and intestines. Most ulcers are located in the duodenum. These ulcers are called duodenal ulcers. Ulcers located in the stomach are called gastric ulcers. Ulcers in the esophagus are called esophageal ulcers.

What causes ulcers?

A type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes many ulcers. Acid and other juices made by the stomach can contribute to ulcers by burning the lining of your digestive tract. This can happen if your body makes too much acid or if the lining of your digestive tract is damaged in some way. Physical or emotional stress may not necessarily cause an ulcer, but it can aggravate an ulcer if you have one.Ulcers can also be caused by anti-inflammatory medicines. Although most people take these medicines without problems, long-term use may damage the stomach lining and cause ulcers. Anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen (one brand name: Motrin), naproxen (brand name: Aleve), ketoprofen (brand names: Actron, Orudis KT) and some prescription drugs for arthritis.



Possible signs of an ulcer

1.Feel better when you eat or drink and then worse 1 or 2 hours later (duodenal ulcer)
2.Feel worse when you eat or drink (gastric ulcer)
3.Stomach pain that wakes you up at night
4.Feel full fast
5.Heavy feeling, bloating, burning or dull pain in your stomach
6.Vomiting
7.Unexpected weight loss


How can ulcers be treated?

One way to treat ulcers is to get rid of the H. pylori bacteria. Treatment may also be aimed at lowering the amount of acid that your stomach makes, neutralizing the acid and protecting the injured area so it can heal. It's also very important to stop doing things, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, that damage the lining of your digestive tract.



What is triple therapy?

Triple therapy is a treatment to eliminate H. pylori. It is a combination of 2 antibiotics and bismuth subsalicylate (one brand name: Pepto-Bismol). Other combinations may also be effective. This treatment may be used with medicine that reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes.

What about other medicines?

Several other medicines can be used to help treat ulcers. Two types of medicines (H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) reduce the amount of acid that your stomach makes. They usually help people start to feel better within 3 days.Antacids neutralize acid that the stomach makes. A medicine called sucralfate (brand name: Carafate) coats the ulcer to protect it from the acid so it has time to heal.Another medicine, misoprostol (brand name: Cytotec), reduces the amount of acid and protects the lining of the stomach. It is usually used to prevent gastric ulcers in people who need to take anti-inflammatory drugs and who have had stomach irritation or ulcers in the past.

How long will I have to take medicine?

Treatment to get rid of H. pylori usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks. Your doctor may want you to take medicine that lowers the stomach acid for up to 8 weeks. Most ulcers heal within this time.If your symptoms come back after you stop taking medicine, your doctor may want you to take a different medicine or take a low dose of medicine even when you're not having symptoms to keep the ulcer from coming back.


Tips on healing your ulcer

1.Don't smoke.
2.Avoid anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
3.Avoid caffeine and alcohol (or have them only in small amounts and on a full stomach).
4.Avoid spicy foods if they cause heartburn.

Does what I eat affect my ulcer?

It may. But this isn't true for everyone. Certain foods and drinks may be more likely to make your pain worse. These include both regular and decaffeinated coffee, tea, chocolate, meat extracts, alcohol, black pepper, chili powder, mustard seed and nutmeg. You may want to avoid these things if they bother you. But keep your diet balanced. Try eating small, frequent meals when you're having pain.

Warning signs that your ulcer is getting worse

1.You vomit blood.
2.You vomit food eaten hours or days before.
3.You feel cold or clammy.
4.You feel unusually weak or dizzy.
5.You have blood in your stools (blood may make your stools look black or like tar).
6.You have ongoing nausea or repeated vomiting.
7.You have sudden, severe pain.
8.You keep losing weight.
9.Your pain doesn't go away when you take your medicine.
10.Your pain reaches to your back.