Saturday, April 9, 2011

Stomach Cancer Types

This is the cancer that forms in the tissues that line the stomach. Also, known as gastric cancer, it can spread to other organs also, such as: the lymph nodes, liver, lungs and the esophagus. According to an estimate, 800,000 deaths occur per year due to stomach cancer.

Signs and Symptoms
Often stomach cancer causes nonspecific symptoms in the initial stage. By the time the signs are visible, it had already reached to an advanced level. This is the main reason why is its prognosis so poor. The symptoms according to severity level are:

Initial stage:

  • Indigestion or heartburn
  • Irritation
  • Abdominal discomfort
  • Loss of appetite

Middle:

  • Fatigue
  • Physical weakness
  • Bloated stomach, especially after taking a meal.

Advanced:

  • Weight loss
  • Nausea , occasional vomiting
  • Constipation or diarrhea
  • Dysphagia
  • Abdominal pain
  • Bleeding that is black in color( blood in vomit or stool which causes anemia.
As mentioned, earlier, the symptoms are non-specific. These are also manifested in gastric ulcer and stomach virus. It is advised to get the patient to an expert oncologist or a gastroenterologist, who makes the diagnosis at right time.

What causes stomach cancer?

You might be thinking about the causes of such a serious disease. The factor responsible for this cancer are:
  • Genetic history
  • Intestinal metaplasia
  • Autoimmune gastritis
  • Diet: such as, smoked foods, pickled veggies, salted meat.
  • Certain elements in foods( notates, nitrites found in meat)
  • Tobacco smoking
  • Alcohol intake

Treatment

These options are taken help from to treat gastric cancer:
  • Radiation therapy
  • Surgery
  • Chemotherapy
  • Multimodality therapy
Diet is also modified along with any treatment process. The patients are recommended to avoid all foods that may trigger or worsen the condition and take foods rich in anti oxidants. Fresh fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of anti-oxidant. These have other health benefits as well.

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