​Stomach Cancer Symptoms

Stomach Cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. It accounts for five percent of all stomach cancer cases. Just as common as stomach cancer, the second most common form of stomach cancer is carcinoma adenocarcinoma. Other forms include non-melanoma gastritis, lymphoma, stomach stromal tumor, or Gist. In recent decades, there's been a reduction in the number of stomach cancer cases in the U.S and other Western nations.

Stomach Cancer symptoms can be mistaken for other gastrointestinal disorders such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or peptic ulcer disease (PUD). These symptoms often result from anxiety, stress, over-eating, or excessive intake of food. Abnormal sensations such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation may accompany these symptoms. Because stomach cancer may include symptoms not always apparent, it is important to seek medical care promptly.

The three stages of this disease are: pre-staging, staging, and treatment. Staging involves waiting to find out if the cancer has spread. If it has, staging is done to determine the extent of the disease. Once it has reached this final stage, treatment is decided upon.

Stomach cancer affects about half of those who get it. When diagnosed, it is in its early stage and there is a good chance it will be treated. About two-thirds of those who are diagnosed will survive five years. Five-year relative survival rates are higher for people with a higher stage of the cancer. Relative means their chance to survive when compared with someone who is diagnosed with the same stage of the illness.

Although stomach cancer is considered rare, it still affects millions of individuals annually, according to statistics. It is responsible for more deaths than breast cancer and gallbladder cancer combined. Learning the causes of stomach gastric cancer and its prognosis will help individuals determine if they should seek treatment or not.

Some research indicates that small-cell lung cancer, lung adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas are more common in people with a family history of stomach cancer. Other research suggests that obesity, race, age, and gender can have an effect on the risk for stomach cancer. People who smoke, have high body cholesterol, are over-weight, and have diabetes can also have a greater risk of developing cancer. This is because these individuals have a greater risk of spreading the cancer. Obesity causes the formation of fibrous bands inside the stomach, which can then lead to the growth of cancerous cells. Age and gender can affect the chances of survival since older individuals have lower 5-year relative survival rates.

Stomach cancer spreads when the cancer cells invade and occupy the tissues nearby the main tumor. This usually happens when the cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes and capillaries, but not necessarily all nearby tissue. Survival rates after diagnosis range from about 11% to about 90%.

Stomach cancer usually develops slowly with no obvious symptoms appearing. Stomach symptoms depend on the location of the cancer and vary from one individual to another. Some people experience symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, vomiting, fever, and nausea; others may not experience these symptoms at all. It is important to note that not all people with this condition develop symptoms. Research indicates that approximately half of those diagnosed with this condition do not undergo treatment in time. Stomach gastric cancer can be difficult to diagnose in early stages and often goes undiagnosed for months or even years.

When Stomach Cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, survival rates are very high. Unfortunately, this disease does not show any improvement over time. If the cancer spreads to other areas of the body (such as the liver or kidneys) the survival rates decrease significantly. Although treatment options can be limited due to spread, there are ways to improve the odds of a patient receiving an improved prognosis. Surviving this type of cancer is not dependent on how severe the spread of the tumor is.

Stomach cancer can be hereditary, being passed down through the family. Environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, exposure to pesticides, and increased risk of sunburns can also contribute to increased risk of developing this disease. People who consume large amounts of red meat or consume seafood that has high levels of mercury have a greater chance of developing stomach cancer. Also, people who consume an increased number of foods that contain trans fat are at greater risk of developing gastric cancer. In addition, people who consume diets high in dairy products are more likely to develop this disease. However, family history of stomach conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may play a role in the development of stomach cancer.

Stomach cancer is the second most common type of cancer found in Americans. Though it can be easily detected during its early stages, if it is not diagnosed or treated, it has a high chance of becoming advanced. Once diagnosed with any type of stomach condition, the patient should immediately look for a treatment plan. Although there is no cure for stomach ailments, there are ways to improve the chances of a patient surviving the cancer. When Stomach Cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, survival rates are very high. However, when Stomach Cancer is diagnosed in its advanced stages, the patient has a 10-percent chance of surviving.

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