General Information About Stomach Cancer
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where the cells of the membrane (mucosa) lining the inside of the stomach mutate and multiply uncontrollably, forming a tumor and expanding through the stomach wall to spread to other organs (liver, lungs).
H. Pylori Bacterium: Untreated chronic helicobacter infection thins the stomach lining (atrophic gastritis), paving the way for cancer.
Nutrition: Excessively salty, smoked (charcoal-burnt meats), pickled foods, and nitrated packaged products (sausages, salami) present a substantial risk. Furthermore, smoking, obesity, and a family history of stomach cancer (genetics) multiply the probability of developing cancer.
In the early stages, it usually presents no symptoms. It causes mild heartburn, bloating, and belching (the patient considers it normal gastritis and disregards it). In advanced stages; a feeling of immediate fullness even with very little food, difficulty swallowing, persistent stomach pain, vomiting coffee-ground-like blood, black tarry stools, severe loss of appetite, fatigue (anemia), and rapid weight loss begin.
Those with a family history of stomach cancer regardless of age, and everyone over the age of 45-50 who experiences newly onset stomach pain, weight loss, or early satiety should undergo an Endoscopy without losing time.
The only and definitive way of diagnosis is a Gastroscopy (Endoscopy) procedure. The inside of the stomach is thoroughly examined with a camera, and multiple tissue pieces (Biopsies) are obtained from ulcerated or elevated suspicious lesions to search for cancer cells in pathology. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) and PET-CT are performed to determine the spread.
The primary treatment is Surgery. Depending on the location and size of the tumor, a part of the stomach (Subtotal Gastrectomy) or the entire stomach (Total Gastrectomy) is removed along with the surrounding lymph nodes via closed (laparoscopic) or open surgery. If the stomach is completely removed, the esophagus is sutured directly to the small intestine. Patients can continue their lives without a stomach with special diets and vitamin (B12) supplements. Chemotherapy is routinely administered to support the surgical intervention.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
