Stomach Cancer
What is it?
Stomach cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of your stomach. There are different types of stomach malignancies, depending on the type of cell and the part of the stomach involved.
The stomach is an organ in your upper abdomen. It is part of the digestive system, which process food and helps pass waste material out of the body.
Stomach cancer, like most cancer types, is divided into stages, according to how much it has spread out of the stomach into the rest of your body.
Additional names
This group contains additional names:
- Gastric Cancer
Signs & symptoms
It is hard to diagnose stomach cancer in its early stages.
Indigestion and stomach discomfort can be symptoms of early cancer, but other problems can cause the same symptoms.
In advanced cases, there may be blood in your stool, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of your eyes and skin), or trouble swallowing.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam. The following tests might be done next:
-blood tests to check for any abnormalities
-Gastroscopy- a procedure done in order to look inside your stomach and check for abnormal areas. If abnormal area was found, a biopsy, in which a small piece of tissues is taken out so it can be viewed under a microscope, will be done.
-Imaging tests of the stomach, such as a CT scan
Treatment
There are different types of treatment for patients with gastric cancer. The treatment depends on the type of cancer, its stage and your general health:
-Surgery – to remove the cancer
-Chemotherapy- medication that will kill cancerous cells or stop their growing.
-Radiation therapy- high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation used to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
-Targeted therapy- drugs or other substances that are aimed to attack specific cancer cells.
☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.
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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:
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