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.