Stomach cancer is the abnormal growth of cancerous cell lining in the wall of stomach. It is the fifth most common cancer globally. Most stomach cancer occurs in the first most part of the stomach called cardia.
Stomach cancer can spread to other parts of the body beyond the stomach.
Stomach cancer is very difficult to detect at the early stage. Some of the symptoms include indigestion, trouble swallowing and symptoms related to ulcer like pain after eating food. Pernicious anemia maybe a presenting sign. Long term infections with H.pylori may lead to inflammation and lining of stomach can become pre-cancerous.
Tobacco use increases the risk.
Stomach cancer can be treated based on its type and stages.
Stomach cancer can be hereditary, mutation in
CDH1 gene increases the risk.
Gastrectomy is recommended for people with
CDH1 gene mutation.
About 80 % risk in Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) increases risk for diffuse gastric cancer in the age 80.
Surgery is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. Endoscopic mucosal resection procedure, removal of the early stage of cancer cells lining in the stomach wall.
Partial gastrectomy is a technique performed to remove the portion of stomach. Total gastrectomy is a complicated procedure performed to remove the entire stomach.
Chemotherapy is been treated by using cytotoxic medicines that control the growth of cancerous cells. Combination of chemotherapy and trastuzumab is used to treat the advanced stage of stomach cancer.
Radiotherapy is a technique where the high beam energy radiation is used to destroy the cancerous cells.
Treatment of H.pylori infection can decrease the risk of stomach cancer development.
Food safety is more important for people, because it may weaken the immune system.
Carcinogenic factors in the diet such as smoked food and nitrates may increase the risk of stomach cancer. Eating processed meat (bacon) and alcohol consumption increase the risk of stomach cancer.
