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Stomach cancer, well known as gastric cancer, is defined as abnormal & uncontrolled growth in the cell lining of the stomach.
Pre-cancerous cells affect the inner cell lining before cancer development starts in the stomach. This stage doesn't show any symptoms, which makes it difficult to detect the disease at an early phase. The human stomach is subdivided into cardia, fundus, and body. The major function of these layers is to break down the food into smaller pieces and better absorption of nutrients. The three layers of the stomach are the mucosa (innermost layer), sub-mucosa (middle), and serosa (outermost). These layers are important in the detection of cancer stage, prognosis, and treatment options. This disease can be detected with the help of different technologies. The treatment options should be more advanced as cancer starts growing in the inner lining of the stomach. Advanced stages can lead to the spreading of cancer to multiple organs such as the liver, lung, and digestive tract. Elder people are more prone to this disease in which men are more likely to be affected than females.
Basic facts to be known about Stomach Cancer
● Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer with 1.1 million cases reported in 2020 worldwide. It stands in the fourth rank for causing 8,00,000 deaths globally.
● According to a recent report, about 34, 353 cases of stomach cancer were recorded in India in 2022.
● As per World Cancer Research report data of 2022, India has recorded 43,060 male and 21,551 female cases of stomach cancer.
● Around 75% of all new stomach cancer cases are recorded with high human development index (HDI) countries in Asia.
Signs and symptoms of Stomach cancer
At a very early stage, it is uncommon to observe any signs and symptoms of stomach cancer. Mild symptoms may be observed that can delay the disease detection on time. Most symptoms are common due to other reasons than cancer, such as ulcers. Some of the symptoms may include:
● Abdominal pain
● Poor appetite
● Acidity
● Feel full even after a small meal
● Sudden weight loss
● Fatigue and nausea
● Bloody stool
● Indigestion or heartburn
● Low hemoglobin (anemia)
● Yellowness in the eye and skin (if cancer reaches to liver)
● Vomiting with or without blood
● Swelling in abdomen
Risk Factor causing Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer with millions of cases getting reported annually. Different risk factors affect different parts of the stomach and cause severity. Some of the risk factors are discussed below:
● H. Pylori infection: H. pylori is a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers. This infection is proven to be a major risk factor for developing stomach cancer. Some people get ulcers due to inflammation and thinning of the stomach lining. This damage leads to stomach cancer.
● Genetics: The risk of getting diagnosed with this disease increases if there is any first-blood relative with a history of stomach cancer.
● Diet: Consumption of highly salted food, packaged & smoked food, and improperly cooked meals increase the risk of stomach cancer.
● Smoking: People who smoke are at higher risk of getting detected with stomach cancer as compared to non-smokers. Consumption of alcohol and cigarettes elevates the risk of stomach cancer.
● Gender: Females are less prone to have stomach cancer than males. Differences in lifestyle can be the reason for more cases in males.
● Other medical conditions: Anemia, obesity(excessive body weight), and chronic acid reflux elevate the risk of stomach cancer.
Types of Stomach Cancer
● Adenocarcinoma: It develops when the cancerous cell starts to develop in the innermost cell lining of the stomach. All stomach cancers are classified as adenocarcinoma.
● Gastrointestinal junction adenocarcinoma: Cancer develops within the area where cardia (upper body of stomach) and esophagus meet. It is mainly known as esophageal cancer.
● Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine carcinoma: slowly growing cancer cells that develop in nerve cells lined with in stomach. The rectum, appendix, and small intestine are major affected areas of this carcinoma.
Stages of Stomach Cancer
The size of the tumor describes the stage of cancer. Based on that, there are five common stages of stomach cancer.
● Stage 0: Known as carcinoma in situ. Cancer cells begin to grow in the stomach's inner cell lining in this stage. It is the most difficult stage to diagnose with no or mild symptoms.
● Stage 1: Cancer begins to spread from most inner layers of mucosa to sub-mucosa.
● Stage 2: In this stage, cancer cells start to spread in more inner layers and lymph nodes.
● Stage 3: Cancerous cells are present in all layers of the stomach and more of the lymph nodes.
● Stage 4: Well known as the metastatic stage. Cancerous cells are spread in nearby organs such as the liver, brain, chest, and esophagus.
Methods used in the detection of Stomach Cancer
If you are seeing any of the symptoms mentioned, you should consult a doctor. Various diagnosis methods include:
● Medical history and physical examination: The doctor will ask for any family history of cancer. In case of your medical history, the doctor will ask for the symptoms you're feeling. Your doctor might feel your belly for any unusual physical appearance.
● Upper endoscopy: The doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube-like structure with a small camera in the end, down to your throat. This will help the doctor examine the lining of the upper abdomen, esophagus, and upper small intestine.
● Biopsy: During endoscopy, if the doctor suspects unusual growth in your stomach. An endoscopy tube with a small needle at the end will go down through the wall of your stomach to get a sample for biopsy. This sampling will be further used to test cancer or tumor growth in your stomach.
● Imaging test: The doctor will prescribe some imaging tests to diagnose cancer clearly. Some tests are CT scans, X-rays, MRIs, and PET scans. These tests help to visualize the area affected, and tumor size and confirm the stage of cancer.
● Laparoscopy: This procedure is performed when the imaging tests are not able to diagnose the cancer properly. Laparoscopy is performed in the operating room. The patient is given anesthesia. A small laparoscopic tube with a camera is inserted into the belly through a small cut. This provides a detailed view of the stomach and nearby parts where the cancer has spread.
Way to prevent Stomach Cancer
Many things in our daily lives increase and decrease the risk factor for stomach cancer. Changes in a few habits in daily routine will prevent stomach cancer. Some prevention ways are:
● Quit Smoking
● Avoid alcohol consumption
● Avoid processed meat and packaged food.
● Maintain a healthy BMI.
● Reduce high salty, smoked, and spicy food.
● Add vegetables, and fruits and maintain a proper diet.
● Engagement in physical activity
● Take proper medications if you find any infection in your stomach.
Treatment method for Stomach Cancer
The doctor prescribes the treatment depending on the size of the tumor and the stage of the cancer. Stomach cancer can be cured in an early stage with the help of surgery. Chemotherapy treatment helps to slow the multiplication process and treat the symptoms using different treatments. The treatment options for stomach cancer are mentioned below:
● Surgery: Surgery is proven to be a successful treatment method to remove cancer cells. It is the only treatment for all the stages of cancer from removing the parts to or whole stomach.
● Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to kill cancerous cells in the body. Some drugs such as Cyamza (Ramucirumab 500 mg) are available at affordable prices on Magicine Pharma. Chemotherapy helps to shrink the size of the tumor and stop its multiplication.
● Targeted drug and Immunotherapy: Targeted drug therapy is used to identify, attack, and kill specific cancer cells. Some drugs include Sunicine (Sunitinib 12.5mg, 25mg, 50mg) that are available on Magicine Pharma. This is an online pharmacy that deals with all kinds of anticancer drugs. They offer great discount offers on anticancer medicines. There are some drugs that help to generate immunity against cancer cells, known as immunotherapy.
● Radiotherapy: Radiation therapy uses X-rays to kill cancer cells. It also destroys the tumor cell which can't be removed via surgery. Stomach cancer cells are killed via external radiation therapy. Radiation therapy may also help to slow down the growth of cancer and control the symptoms like pain, and bleeding.
FAQs
1. How does stomach cancer occur?
Stomach cancer occurs for many reasons. These factors include smoking, long-standing acid reflux, excessive use of packaged food, and untreatable ulcers.
2. What is the average life expectancy after diagnosis of stomach cancer?
The life expectancy depends on the stage of diagnosis and response to the treatment. Around 35% of people survived for more than 5 years in case of stage 2 diagnosis, whereas 25% for stage 3 cancer diagnosis.
3. Can it be possible to treat stomach cancer completely?
No, It is not possible to treat stomach cancer completely but it is estimated that 20-30% of cases can be treated depending on the stage diagnosed.
4. Which age group is most affected by stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer mostly affects the 50-70 age group and more men than women. There is estimated research that there is a level of 6-8% for the age group under 40.
5. Why is a prescribed CT scan after endoscopy?
The CT scan uses X-rays to take detailed diagnoses of your abdomen that help in better stage detection and treatment plans. Simple X-rays can't give a detailed overview for cancer detection, whereas a CT scan following endoscopy provides a pelvis, abdomen, and chest scan.
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6983757/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8968487/
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21834
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/stomach-cancer/about.html
