Cancer can strike anywhere in the body – but one type of cancer that you might not expect is gastric cancer. Also known as stomach cancer, gastric cancer has been decreasing in recent years. But more than 11,000 people still die from this cancer each year. That’s why it’s so important to understand gastric cancer and learn more with an online search.
Gastric, or stomach, cancer most commonly affects older adults, particularly those around age 68. If you could be at risk for developing stomach cancer, make sure you’re informed about what this cancer looks like, how it begins, and how it progresses. You can find out more with an online search right now.
What is Gastric Cancer?
Gastric cancer is a disease that forms when cancerous cells develop in the lining of the stomach. These cancerous cells then multiply, increasing in number and causing dangerous health effects within your stomach, your digestive system, and throughout the body.
Some people are more likely to develop stomach cancer than others. If you have certain risk factors in your health history or family background, you may have a higher chance of developing this cancer. Risk factors for stomach cancer include:
- Being an older adult.
- Eating a diet that’s high in smoked or salted foods.
- Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
- Eating foods that have been improperly prepared or stored.
- A history of smoking.
- Having certain medical conditions, like chronic gastritis, gastric polyps, or Epstein-Barr virus.
- A family history of stomach cancer.
If you think you might be at an increased risk for gastric cancer, it’s important to speak with your doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine your risk and whether or not you should be concerned.
Warning Signs and Symptoms of Gastric Cancer
When gastric cancer first forms, you won’t have any idea it’s present in your body. In its earliest stages, this cancer rarely causes symptoms – meaning you won’t notice any changes to your health.
Because symptoms are so rare when stomach cancer first begins, it’s difficult to detect this cancer in its early stages. You can live normally for a long time without realizing you have cancer. And when symptoms do begin, they can be subtle.
Symptoms of stomach cancer can look like symptoms of many other, more common illnesses. That can make it difficult to determine if you’re living with a serious concern like cancer, or something more common like the flu. You’ll want to keep an eye out for the common symptoms of stomach cancer, which include:
- A lack of appetite.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Abdominal pain or discomfort.
- Feeling full after eating a small meal.
- Heartburn.
- Indigestion.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting, or vomiting with blood.
- Swelling in the abdomen.
- Blood in your stool.
If you experience any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. You’ll want to rule out other health concerns and try to get an official diagnosis. Because so many of these symptoms are connected to both stomach cancer and other types of health issues, it’s important to get an answer as to what’s causing them.
The Stages of Gastric Cancer
Only one in five cases of gastric cancer are diagnosed in the early stages. When found early, this cancer can be very treatable. However, because it’s such a tricky cancer to detect early on, it’s often found once it has progressed to later stages.
When stomach cancer progresses, it begins showing more serious and pronounced symptoms. However, it also becomes more widespread throughout the body.
The stages of gastric cancer are:
- Stage 0 – Abnormal cells are present in the innermost lining of the stomach.
- Stage I – Cancer forms in the stomach’s innermost lining. It may spread into other layers of the stomach wall, lymph nodes, and the muscles of the stomach.
- Stage II – Cancer has spread into the tissue or muscle layers of the stomach and may be found in the lymph nodes. It may be present in anywhere from one to seven or more lymph nodes.
- Stage III – Cancer has spread to the outermost layer of the stomach, lymph nodes near the stomach, and nearby organs like the kidneys, adrenal glands, small intestine, or pancreas.
- Stage IV – Cancer has spread to distant areas of the body, and it may be present in organs beyond the digestive system.
Treating Gastric Cancer
The stage of your cancer is a critical component of the treatment plan. Your doctor will do diagnostic testing and examinations in order to determine what stage your cancer is at. From there, your doctor will be able to create a treatment plan that’s just for your needs.
There are a number of available treatment options for stomach cancer. However, not all treatments are suitable for every stage of this cancer.
The following treatments are typically used for each stage of gastric cancer:
- Stage 0 – This stage of gastric cancer has yet to spread, so it’s commonly treated by surgery alone. Part of the stomach can be removed, or the entire stomach might be removed.
- Stage I – At this stage, the cancer is often removed with surgery. Some cases may require surgery and chemotherapy, or surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. This is often the case if cancer is found in lymph nodes.
- Stage II – In stage II, stomach cancer surgery is used to remove all or part of the stomach as well as nearby lymph nodes. Chemotherapy and radiation are also often used before or after surgery.
- Stage III – Surgery is the primary treatment option at stage III, as well as chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy is often used both before and after surgery.
- Stage IV – In this stage, the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. Treatments can only work to keep the cancer under control and relieve some symptoms. Doctors might try surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy used in combination.
If you’re concerned about stomach cancer, make sure to talk with your doctor. The best way to detect this cancer in its early stages is to be informed and aware. Even subtle changes to your health could be a small warning sign of this cancer.