Everything you need to know about stomach cancer | gastric cancer | Symptoms

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Everything you need to
know
about
stomach
cancer
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Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is
a buildup of abnormal cells that form a mass in
part of the stomach.
According to the World Health Organization
(WHO), 723,000 cancer-related deaths are caused
by stomach cancer each year worldwide. It is the
fifth most common cancer worldwide, but the third
leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
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Fast facts on stomach cancer
Here are some key points about stomach cancer.
More detail and supporting information is in the
main article.

• Stomach cancer is the third leading cause of
  cancer- related deaths.
• The most common type of stomach cancer is
  adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
• Early symptoms include heartburn ,
  persistent indigestion, and difficulty
  swallowing.

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Symptoms

• There are several symptoms associated with
  stomach cancer. However, as they also exist in
  many other less serious conditions, gastric
  cancer may be difficult to recognize at first.

• a sensation of being very full during meals
• swallowing difficulties, known as dysphagia
• feeling bloated after meals
• frequent burping
• heartburn
• stomachache, or pain in the breastbone

• fatigue
• loss of appetite
• weight loss

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Causes

• Cancer starts when the structure of DNA changes.
  When this happens, it can disrupt the
  instructions that control cell growth.
• Cells that should die may not do so, and cells
  that should be newly created may be produced too
  rapidly or in an uncontrollable way.
• Experts are not sure why some stomach cells
  mutate and become cancerous. It is not known why
  only a few people develop stomach cancer.

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Treatment

• Treatment for stomach cancer depends on several
  factors, including the severity of the cancer and
  the individual's overall health and preferences.
• Treatments may include surgery, chemotherapy, radi
  ation therapy, medications, and taking part in
  clinical trials.

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Surgery
The surgeon's aim is to remove the stomach cancer
from the body as well as a margin of healthy
tissue. This is necessary to make sure no
cancerous cells are left behind.
Examples include
Removing tumors from the stomach lining in
early-stage cancer The surgeon will
use endoscopy to remove very small tumors that
are confined to the inside lining of the stomach.
This is called endoscopic mucosal
resection. Subtotal gastrectomy A part of the
stomach is surgically removed. Total gastrectomy
The whole stomach is surgically removed.

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