Your guide to understanding all aspects of stomach cancer
“Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees, it brought me to my feet.”
Michael Douglas
Early detection and diagnosis always increase your chances of receiving successful treatment and beating all forms of cancer – especially stomach cancer. Detecting stomach cancer early will significantly boost your odds of survival.
You can read the section that details the various types of cancer before embarking on the journey to understand stomach cancer better. Read more
Stomach cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the lining of the stomach. These cells grow in an abnormal or uncontrolled manner and form a tumour. The cancer may sometimes spread or metastasize through the stomach cells and tissue to other parts of the body.
Stomach cancer occurs when cancer cells form in the lining of the stomach. These cells grow in an abnormal or uncontrolled manner and form a tumour. The cancer may sometimes spread or metastasize through the stomach cells and tissue to other parts of the body.
There are four main types of cancer that originate in the stomach
Clinical practitioners and researchers do not know the exact causes of stomach cancer. There are certain risk factors (detailed below) that can increase your chance of developing it; however, having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely get stomach cancer. On the other hand, having no risk factors also does not mean you will not get the disease. Stomach cancer is likely to be caused by a combination of these factors, rather than just one.
Although clinicians do not fully understand what causes stomach cancer, here are some factors that put people at higher risk. Being associated with a risk factor does not necessarily mean that you will develop stomach cancer:
A family history of stomach cancer
A poor diet, including low consumption of fruits and vegetables or high amounts of salted or smoked foods
Consuming foods that have not been prepared or stored properly
Smoking or regular usage of chewing tobacco
Exposure of the stomach or abdomen to radiation
Obesity and high alcohol consumption
Evidence suggests that taking appropriate steps to avoid risk factors like smoking, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption may reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Being treated for chronic gastritis, H. pylori infection and other pre-existing conditions in a timely manner may also reduce the probability of getting stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer often goes undetected as the symptoms are similar to those of indigestion. It is therefore important to remain vigilant of the common signs of stomach cancer, which include
Indigestion, or other digestion problems such as vomiting, diarrhoea or constipation
Feeling of bloating
Difficulty swallowing
Swelling of the abdomen
Frequent burping
Heartburn or acid reflux
Unexplained loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Extreme fatigue
Vomiting up blood
Bloody or black-coloured stools
Stomach cancer may occur in both men and women. Unfortunately, no standard or routine screening tests are performed for stomach cancer. However, if you experience any of the symptoms listed above or any other inexplicable change, make an appointment with your doctor for prompt evaluation. If you or your loved one have a family history of stomach cancer, have an open discussion with your doctor about undergoing genetic testing or routine check-ups.
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above or your doctor detects any abnormalities, he or she may recommend follow-up diagnostic tests to confirm if cancer is present. Refer to this section for more information about diagnostic tests for stomach cancer. Read more
If your doctor confirms that you have stomach cancer, further tests may be done to study the cancer cells and determine
The stage of your cancer is a key aspect in determining your treatment. Refer to this section to understand your cancer diagnosis and for more information about how stomach cancer is staged. Read more
