🩺 Stomach Cancer (Gastric Cancer)
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the lining of the stomach. It often develops slowly over many years and can be hard to detect early.
🔹 Types
- Adenocarcinoma – Most common, starts in the stomach lining cells.
- Lymphoma – Cancer of immune tissue in the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) – Rare, arises from connective tissue or muscle.
- Carcinoid tumor – Rare, arises from hormone-producing cells.
🔹 Risk Factors
- Helicobacter pylori infection – major bacterial risk factor.
- Dietary factors – high salt, smoked or pickled foods, low fruits/vegetables.
- Smoking and alcohol use.
- Family history or genetic syndromes (e.g., hereditary diffuse gastric cancer).
- Chronic gastritis or pernicious anemia.
🔹 Symptoms (Often Late-Onset)
- Persistent indigestion or heartburn
- Nausea or vomiting, sometimes with blood
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Unintended weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Fatigue or anemia from bleeding
🔹 Diagnosis
- Endoscopy – to visually inspect and biopsy the stomach lining.
- Imaging – CT scans, PET scans to check spread.
- Laboratory tests – blood counts, liver function tests, sometimes tumor markers.
🔹 Treatment Options
- Surgery – partial or total removal of the stomach (gastrectomy).
- Chemotherapy – drugs to kill cancer cells, often before or after surgery.
- Radiation therapy – targeted at cancerous areas.
- Targeted therapy / immunotherapy – newer drugs for specific tumor markers.
- Palliative care – symptom management when cancer is advanced.
🔹 Prevention Tips
- Treat H. pylori infection if present.
- Eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber.
- Limit smoked, pickled, and salty foods.
- Avoid tobacco and excessive alcohol.
- Regular check-ups if you have risk factors or family history.
Stomach cancer is often diagnosed late, so early detection via symptom awareness and endoscopic screening in high-risk individuals is key.
I can also provide a clear visual explanation of how stomach cancer develops and spreads, if you want a step-by-step overview. Do you want me to do that?
