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Gastric cancer
Purposes of this summary
The purposes of this summary on gastric
cancer prevention are to:
- Give information on gastric cancer and how often it occurs
- Describe gastric cancer prevention methods
- Give the symptoms of gastric cancer
- Give the treatment options for gastric cancer
You can talk to your doctor or health
care professional about cancer prevention methods and whether these methods would be
likely to help you.
General Info
Alternative Names - cancer of the
stomach; stomach cancer.
Definition
A malignancy of the stomach.
GASTRIC CANCER
Gastric cancer is cancer of the
stomach. The most common type of stomach cancer is “gastric adenocarcinoma”, or
cancer of the glandular tissue in the stomach. Other rarer forms of stomach cancer include
cancer involving the lymphatic system (lymphomas) and cancer of the connective tissue,
such as muscle, fat or blood vessels (sarcomas).
Significance of gastric cancer
Over most of the century, the frequency
of gastric cancer has been decreasing in the western countries, but not quite so in India.
There has continued to be a decrease in cancer arising in the part of the stomach that is
closest to the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). However, cancer at the
junction between the esophagus and stomach is on the increase.
Gastric cancer prevention
Gastric cancer can sometimes be
associated with known risk factors for the disease. Many risk factors are modifiable
though not all can be avoided.
Diet and Lifestyle
Excessive salt intake has been
identified as a possible risk factor for gastric cancer. Having a high intake of fresh fruits and vegetables may be associated with a
decreased risk of gastric cancer. Studies have suggested that eating foods that contain
beta-carotene and vitamin C may decrease the risk of gastric cancer, especially if intake
of micronutrients is inadequate.
Pre-existing Conditions
Infection with
a certain bacteria, Helicobacter pylori, is associated with an increased risk of gastric
cancer. Long-standing reflux of gastric contents and the development of an abnormal
cellular lining is also associated with an increased risk of cancer at the junction of the
stomach and esophagus.
Other
factors
They are family history
of gastric cancer, blood type group A, history of pernicious anemia, history of chronic
atrophic gastritis, condition of decreased gastric acid, history of adenomatous gastric
polyp, and partial gastrectomy. The incidence is 2 out of 10,000 people.
Symptoms
Loss of appetite
- Difficulty swallowing
- Vague fullness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Vomitting blood
- An abdominal pain
- Belching
- Breath odor
- Excessive gas and flatus
- Heartburn after meals
- Weight loss
- A decline in general health
- An abdominal fullness prematurely after meals.
Signs and Tests
An upper GI series showing gastric
cancer
An EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy) and
biopsy showing gastric cancer
A complete blood check showing
anemia |
Treatment
Surgery on the stomach (gastrectomy) is the only curative treatment. Radiation
therapy and chemotherapy can be beneficial.
Complications
A complication is the cancer spreading (metastasizing) to other organs or tissues.
Expectations (prognosis)
There is a wide variation in malignancy of gastric tumors. Ten per cent of patients with
surgical resection will be cured of cancer. Sources report that in Japan, where mass
screenings detect gastric cancers earlier, cure rates are increased. |
