What is Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer is a disease wherein cancerous cells are formed in the inner lining of the stomach. Gradually, these cells develop into a tumuor to pose some serious health risks. Also known as gastric cancer, it’s a disease that grows with a slow pace, and takes years to surface fully.
The medical science is yet to establish the real cause of this disease or about the origin of cells in the stomach. However, there are some risk factors that make people susceptible to the disease. Among the causes, the infection by common bacteria (H. pylori) is major one.
More so, gastritis or gut inflammation can cause this disease, so doe persistent anemia and polyps (growth in the stomach).
What are the types of Stomach Cancer?
There are many types of stomach cancer, like:-
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach – The most common form that originates in the gland cells of the stomach Squamous cell cancers – Starts between gland cells Lymphoma of the stomach – A rare type Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) – Starts from the cells of the connective tissues that prop up digestive tract Neuroendocrine tumours- Begins in the hormone producing tissues
Sign and symptoms of Stomach Cancer
No marked symptoms are present in the initial stages of stomach cancer. The disease reaches at advanced stage by the time some symptoms start appearing.
Some of symptoms include:-
•Indigestion • Burning sensation • Abdominal discomfort • Loss of appetite • Weakness and fatigue • Nausea and irregular vomiting • Weight loss
Treatment of Stomach Cancer
Treatment of stomach cancer would largely rely on the stage and spread of the disease. For Stage 0, surgery alone is sufficient as the risks have not spread far off.
Total or subtotal gastrectomy is the recommended treatment option for stage IA stomach cancer where cancer is removed along with lymph nodes of the nearby. For Stage IB, surgery is apt, though chemo or radiotherapy may come earlier.
Surgery is done to take out all parts of the stomach in Stage II and Stage III. A combination of treatment is done to cure the Stage IV cancer with extremely low survival rate.