Gastric (Stomach) Cancer Risks Factors, Symptoms and Treatment

What is stomach (gastric) cancer?
 

Stomach cancer refers to the abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells and tissues that are present in the stomach. The stomach cancer generally initiates from the innermost layer of the tissues lining the stomach and spreads to the other layers at a varied pace. It has been estimated that about 21,130 new cases of stomach cancer would be diagnosed and about 10,620 individuals would die due to stomach cancer related complications in the United States in 2009. Adenocarcinoma of the stomach has been considered as the most common cancer noted all over the world. The incidence of gastric cancer is much higher in the Asian countries and especially in Japan and China. Interestingly, the rate of stomach cancer in the US is on a decline which may be attributed to the healthier living practices being adopted in the recent years. However, cancers of the upper portion of the stomach are on the rise owing to increased incidence of obesity and disorders such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Who are at risk of developing gastric cancer?

The exact cause for the occurrence of gastric cancer is unknown. However several factors that are listed below have been associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Stomach cancer is noted more commonly in men than in women. Adults above the age of 55 years are generally at an increased risk of developing stomach cancers. African Americans were noted to have a higher incidence of stomach cancers when compared to Caucasians.

Diet has been noted to have a vital role in the occurrence of stomach cancers. Individuals who consume an increased amount of smoked, salted, or pickled food were noted to have a higher risk of developing stomach cancer. Furthermore, diets that are rich in salt and nitrates and low in vitamins such as A and C were also associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. The incidence of stomach cancer was very low in individuals who consumed rich amounts of fruits and vegetables.

Certain underlying disorders such as vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, inflammatory conditions of the stomach and presence of polyps in the stomach increase the risk of developing stomach (gastric) cancer. Infections due to a microorganism known as H. Pylori were also noted to increase the risk of gastric cancer in certain individuals.

In some rare instances, stomach cancers were noted to run in the family. One is also at an increased risk of stomach cancer if he/she had a history of stomach cancer, radiation therapy in the abdominal region or surgeries of the stomach. Certain genetic disorders such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome may also be associated with stomach cancer.

The incidence of stomach cancer was much higher in individuals who smoked when compared to the individuals who didn’t smoke.

What are the symptoms of gastric cancer?

Gastric cancer is characterized by a wide variety of signs and symptoms. In many instances the symptoms are quite similar to general conditions such as gastric irritation which may make it difficult to be diagnosed at earlier stages.

Abdominal pain is generally the commonest symptom noted with stomach cancer. A feeling of fullness or bloated after having even a small meal is also noted. Other symptoms may include vomiting sensations (nausea), vomiting, tiredness and unintended weight loss. Loss of appetite, bad odor, and excessive flatulence may be the symptoms in certain affected individuals. In some cases vomit that contains blood may also signify the presence of stomach cancer.

Gastric cancer is diagnosed based on the comprehensive review of the signs and symptoms noted, physical examination and certain specialized imaging and laboratory procedures. Viewing the stomach with specialized imaging methods such as endoscopy, CT scanning and laboratory procedures such as biopsy of the stomach tissues are beneficial in diagnosing the presence and also determining the severity of gastric cancer.

How is gastric cancer treated?

The treatment of gastric cancer depends on various factors such as the stage of gastric cancer, severity of the gastric cancer, amount of spread to neighboring regions, age of the affected individual, presence of any other associated disorders and the general health of the affected individual. The treatment plan is individualized for each case.

Surgical removal of the affected portions of the stomach is the most common method employed to treat gastric cancer. The amount of the portions of the stomach that are removed is based on the severity of the gastric cancer and its spread to neighboring tissues. In mild to moderate cases only the affected regions of the stomach may be surgically removed. In severe cases the complete stomach may have to be removed. In such cases the food pipe (esophagus) is connected to the small intestine to aid in the digestion process. Individuals with complete removal of the stomach may need to follow certain specific diet plans and may also require the consumption of nutritional and vitamin supplements.

Radiation therapy that involves controlled exposure of the abdominal region to x-rays may be beneficial in treating stomach cancer in certain cases. In others, chemotherapy which requires the consumption of anti-cancer medications may be advised. Chemotherapy may be advised in combination with surgery wherein it may either be advised before surgery to reduce the size of the cancer or may be advised after surgery to treat any residual cancer.

Alternative therapies such as counseling, behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and other related therapies may be beneficial in relieving the symptoms associated with gastric cancer and may also help the individual to cope well to the conventional treatment being administered.

How can gastric cancer be prevented?

There are no specific causes that are related to stomach cancer and hence the preventive measures are generalized. Certain alterations in the lifestyle and dietary practices have been found to be helpful in preventing stomach cancer in individuals with high risk of developing stomach cancer.
Dietary changes include decreased consumption of salty and smoked foods. A diet that consists of a minimum of five servings of fruits and vegetables has been advised for good health and may be beneficial in preventing stomach cancer also. Cessation of smoking is also beneficial in preventing stomach cancer and also other complications associated with it.