All About Stomach Cancer and Treatment of Stomach Cancer in India

Q. What is Stomach Cancer?

A. The stomach is a sack-like organ located just under the diaphragm (muscle under the lungs). Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is the name for cancer that begins in the stomach, generally the stomach lining. This type of cancer can eventually spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver, pancreas, colon, lungs and ovaries. People occasionally confuse the stomach organ with the abdominal area, saying they have a "stomach ache" when really the pain could be occurring in the appendix, small intestine, colon (large intestine) or gall bladder, along with the actual stomach. The stomach can be divided into five sections, and the location of the cancer in the stomach can affect things like symptoms, prognosis and treatment options.

Q. What are the Causes and Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer?

A. Risk factors are conditions that increase a person’s chance of getting a type of cancer. Risk factors are different for various types of cancer. Doctors have determined a number of risk factors for stomach cancer:

• Aging – There is a sharp increase in stomach cancer after 50. Most people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in the 60-70 age range.
• Being male – Stomach cancer is about two times more common in men than in women.
• Diet – Foods that are smoked, salted fish and meat, pickled vegetables, and foods that are at the same time high in starch and low in fiber have been identified as possible risk factors. Scientists believe that the dramatic decline in stomach cancer incidence in the United States from the 1930s may be due to the increased use of refrigeration for food storage, which replaced salting or smoking food for storage.
• Tobacco and alcohol abuse – Increases the risk of cancers in the upper portion of the stomach, which can be difficult to treat successfully.
• Previous stomach surgery – After surgery, more nitrite-producing bacteria are present in the stomach. Nitrites can be converted by other bacteria into compounds that have been found to cause stomach cancer in animals.
• Family history of stomach cancer – Several close blood relatives who have or had stomach cancer increases a person’s risk.
• Helicobacter pylori infection – An infection that, if long-term, can lead to chronic atrophic gastritis, which is inflammation of the stomach’s inner layer. Chronic atrophic gastritis is a possible precancerous change to the lining of the stomach.
• Also, risk may be increased, to varying degrees, for people with pernicious anemia, achlorhydria, Menetrier’s disease, familial cancer syndromes, stomach polyps and blood group A.

Q. What are the Symptoms for Stomach Cancer?

A. These symptoms might be caused by stomach cancer:

• Indigestion or a burning sensation (heartburn)
• Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Bloating of the stomach after meals
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness and fatigue
• Bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool)

However, many of these symptoms are more often caused by other medical conditions. It is important to consult a physician to find out what is causing symptoms.

Q. What about Stomach Cancer Treatment?

A . Surgery : The goal of surgery is to remove all of the stomach cancer and a margin of healthy tissue, when possible. Options include:

• Removing a Portion of the Stomach (Subtotal Gastrectomy).During subtotal Gastrectomy, the surgeon removes only the portion of the stomach affected by cancer. Subtotal gastrectomy can be of two types.
• Distal subtotal gastrectomy is performed if the tumor cells are present in the lower part of the stomach near to the stomach duodenum junction.
• Proximal subtotal gastrectomy is done when the tumor is situated in the upper part of the stomach and also involves the esophagus
• Removing the Entire Stomach (Total Gastrectomy).Total Gastrectomy involves removing the entire stomach and some surrounding tissue. The esophagus is then connected directly to the small intestine to allow food to move through your digestive system.
• Removing Lymph nodes to look for Cancer. The surgeon examines and removes lymph nodes in your abdomen to look for cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy : This therapy uses cancer destroying drugs for treating stomach cancer. When the cancer has invaded the stomach wall layers surrounding the lymph nodes and nearby organs then chemotherapy is given. For shrinking the tumor first, chemotherapy is given before the surgery. It can also be given after the surgery for destroying the remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy can also be combined with radiation therapy that provides relieves from many cancer symptoms and can also delay the recurrence of the cancer.

• Radiation therapy : Doctors may recommend radiation therapy in combination with chemotherapy or surgery. Radiation oncologists a have extensive experience in the treatment of gastric cancer, and they use specialized techniques to limit the radiation dose to surrounding healthy tissue.
  
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