Stomach Cancer- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Health Desk- Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a growth of cells that begins in the stomach. The stomach is in the upper middle part of the abdomen, just below the ribs. Stomach helps in breaking down and digesting food.

Stomach cancer can occur in any part of the stomach. Stomach cancer occurs in the main part of the stomach in most of the countries of the world. This part is called the body of the stomach.

Stomach cancer is more likely to start at the gastroesophageal junction. This is the part where the long tube that carries the food you swallow meets the stomach. The tube that carries food to the stomach is called the esophagus.

Where in the stomach the cancer begins is a factor that health care providers consider when making a treatment plan. Other factors may include the stage of the cancer and the type of cells involved. Treatment often involves surgery to remove the colon cancer. Other treatments may be used before and after surgery.

Stomach cancer treatment is more likely to be successful if the cancer is only in the stomach. The prognosis for people with small colon cancer is quite good. Many can expect to recover. Most colon cancers are found when the disease is advanced and the chances of cure are slim. Stomach cancer that has grown through the abdominal wall or spread to other parts of the body is difficult to treat.

How is cancer formed?

Cancer begins when a mistake (mutation) occurs in the DNA of a cell. These cells then divide uncontrollably and continue to grow. These cells combine to form cancer. The abdominal wall is made up of five layers of tissue. Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, begins in mucus-producing cells in the innermost lining of the stomach. It then grows and spreads. It first spreads in the abdominal wall and then increases and spreads to the surrounding tissues. Later it spreads to the liver, lungs and peritoneum.

Symptoms of stomach cancer-

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer may include:

Trouble swallowing

Abdominal pain

Feeling bloated after eating

Feeling full after eating small amounts of food

Not feeling hungry when you would expect to be hungry

Heartburn

Indigestion

Nausea

Vomit

Lose weight without trying

Feeling very tired

Stool that looks black

Colon cancer does not always cause symptoms in its early stages. When they do occur, symptoms may include indigestion and upper abdominal pain. Symptoms may not occur until the cancer is advanced. In the later stages of colon cancer, symptoms may include feeling very tired, losing weight without trying, vomiting blood, and black stools.

Stomach cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is called metastatic colon cancer. It causes specific symptoms where it spreads. For example, when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes it can cause lumps that you can feel through the skin. Cancer that has spread to the liver can cause yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. If cancer spreads within the abdomen, it can cause the abdomen to fill with fluid. The abdomen may feel swollen.

Causes of stomach cancer-

It is not clear what causes colon cancer. Experts believe that most stomach cancers begin when there is an injury to the lining of the stomach. Examples include having a stomach infection, having acid reflux for a long time, and eating a lot of salty foods. However, not everyone with these risk factors gets colon cancer. So more research is needed to find out what exactly causes it.

Stomach cancer begins when something damages cells in the inner lining of the stomach. This causes cells to develop changes to their DNA. A cell's DNA contains instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to multiply quickly. Cells can survive when healthy cells would die as part of their natural life cycle. This leads to the formation of too many extra cells in the stomach. The cells can form a mass called a tumor.

Cancer cells in the stomach can attack and destroy healthy body tissue. They may start to grow deeper into the abdominal wall. Over time, cancer cells can break off and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer cells spread to another part of the body, it is called metastasis.

Types of stomach cancer-

The type of colon cancer you have is based on the type of cell where your cancer started. Examples of types of colon cancer include:

1. Adenocarcinoma- Adenocarcinoma. Colon cancer begins in mucus-producing cells. This is the most common type of colon cancer. Almost all cancers that start in the stomach are adenocarcinomas of the stomach.

2.Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)- GIST begins in specialized nerve cells that are found in the wall of the stomach and other digestive organs. GIST is a type of soft tissue sarcoma.

3. Carcinoid tumors- Carcinoid tumors are cancers that begin in neuroendocrine cells. Neuroendocrine cells are found in many places in the body. They do some nerve cell work and some do the work of cells that make hormones. Carcinoid tumor is a type of neuroendocrine tumor.

4. Lymphoma- Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the cells of the immune system. The body's immune system fights off germs. Lymphoma can sometimes start in the abdomen if the body sends immune system cells to the abdomen. This can happen when the body is trying to fight off an infection. Most lymphomas that begin in the abdomen are a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Risk factors for colon cancer are:

Factors that increase the risk of colon cancer include:

Old age

Men are twice as likely to get stomach cancer than women

Infection with a bacterium called H. pylori

Persistent abdominal bloating

Pernicious anemia

Smoking

Obesity

A diet high in smoked, pickled, or salty foods

Diet low in fruits and vegetables

A problem with stomach acid coming back into the esophagus, called gastroesophageal reflux disease

A diet high in salty and smoked foods

A diet low in fruits and vegetables

Stomach infection caused by a germ called Helicobacter pylori

Inflammation and irritation in the lining of the stomach, which is called gastritis

Read full article click here....