STOMACH CANCER

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Oncology , Oncosurgery , Gastroenterology - Surgery

Also known as Gastric Cancer

ABOUT THE DISEASE

Cancer is a group of many related diseases where normal cells start to multiply abnormally and may form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor. Tumors can be either benign i.e non cancerous or malignant i.e cancerous. Cancer can begin in any organ or tissue of the body. Gastric cancer is a tumor which starts as a growth in the stomach.

The stomach wall has three linings (inner, middle, and outer). Stomach cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and then may spread to any other part. Stomach cancers are classified according to the type of tissue from which they originate. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the glandular tissue of the stomach (accounts for 95% of all stomach cancers). Other forms of stomach cancer include lymphomas, carcinoid tumor, and gastrointestinal stromal cell tumor (GIST).

SYMPTOMS

In the initial stages, patients have a few mild symptoms such as:

• indigestion
• nausea
• feeling bloated
• poor appetite

At a later stage some of the following additional symptoms might be observed:

• Weight loss
• Problems swallowing.
• Vomiting blood.
• Abdominal pain.
• Dark stools or blood in stool

CAUSES

No known causes have been identified, however certain risk factors such as below, increase the chances of getting this disease:
- Age over 55.
- Male sex.
- Race: more common in East Asians, Pacific Islander, Hispanic and African American people.
- Diet high in smoked, salted or pickled foods.
- Tobacco and alcohol use.
- History of stomach surgery, chronic gastritis, gastric polyps or pernicious anemia.
- Stomach infection with H. pylori bacteria (which also increases risk for ulcers).
- Genetic factors including family history and blood type A.

DIAGNOSIS

- Physical examination
- CBC/Blood chemistry
- Gastric endoscopy
- Gastric biopsy
- Faecal occult blood

TREATMENT METHODS

The treatment is based on a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radio therapy alongwith treatment to manage pain and infections.

Surgical treatment:

Gastrectomy - total or partial, as well as some of the tissue surrounding the stomach.

Chemotherapy - drugs to kill or slow the growth of rapidly multiplying cancer cells.

Radiation therapy - Passing high levels of radiation in a focused location to kill cancer cells or prevent them from multiplying.