Since gastric cancer gives late symptoms, it is important to follow the findings correctly. So why does stomach cancer occur? How is the diagnosis made in gastric cancer, in which the layer that protects the stomach is damaged? Gastric cancer, which is the 4th most common type of cancer in the world, is seen in nearly every 20 thousand people in Turkey. How to understand the symptoms of stomach cancer, which affects thousands of people? What kind of treatment is followed? Here are all the unknowns of stomach cancer…
After the food is crushed and ground in the mouth, it comes to our stomach through the esophagus. The stomach is an organ that contains three separate rows of strong muscle fibers and its inner surface is covered with mucous membranes. It mixes the food that comes into the stomach with the liquid with high acid content, kneads it well with strong muscle fibers and turns it into a soup called chyme. With this high acid content, it protects us against most microorganisms that are taken with food.
WHAT IS STOMACH CANCER?
Gastric cancer usually occurs from the mucous layer on the inner surface of the stomach and is called adenocarcinoma.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH CANCER?
Stomach cancers usually show late symptoms. Although the signs and symptoms of gastric cancer vary somewhat depending on the location of the cancer, the main symptoms are as follows:
- Weakness,
- Feeling bloated after meals,
- Feeling full after eating a small amount of food
- heartburn and pain,
- severe indigestion,
- nausea and vomiting,
- unexplained weight loss
AFTER MEAL SYMPTOM WARNING
stomach cancer symptoms Since bloating that starts after meals between meals is a problem that many people experience in their normal lives, it is not taken into account. But remember, since stomach cancer is a type of cancer that is detected late, it is very important to listen to yourself so that the symptoms can be noticed, for a quick start to the treatment. If you are experiencing other stomach cancer symptoms, it is very important that you make a doctor’s appointment without wasting time and fully explain the symptoms you are experiencing for diagnosis.
What are the causes of stomach cancer?
As in most cancers, gastric cancer begins when an error (mutation) occurs in the DNA of the cancer cell nucleus. This mutation causes the cell to lose control and to grow and multiply rapidly. The accumulating cancer cells invade nearby structures and form tumors. Later, cancer cells can leave the tumor and spread to other tissues to spread throughout the body.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF STOMACH CANCER?
Stomach cancer is more common in people with reflux disease, overweight and smokers. There is a strong correlation between diet types rich in smoked and pickled foods and stomach cancer. A diet poor in fruits and vegetables. Eating food contaminated with a fungus called aflatoxin. A family history of gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, long-term gastroenteritis, pernicious anemia, and gastric polyps are also risk factors.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT STOMACH CANCER?
Regular exercise, eating more fruits and vegetables, not smoking, and reducing the consumption of salty and smoked foods reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
HOW IS STOMACH CANCER DIAGNOSED?
A thin tube-shaped camera (endoscopy) is entered through the mouth, entered into the stomach, and directly visualized, and if necessary, a small piece of tissue can be taken (biopsy). Imaging methods such as ultrasound, tomography and MRI can also be used to diagnose.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE SPREAD (PHASE) OF STOMACH CANCER?
Staging is very important because treatment is planned accordingly. CT and positron emission tomography (PET) may often be included after a good physical examination to stage gastric cancer. It can be used in other tests if necessary. If it is caught at an early stage, treatment has a better chance of being successful and surviving the cancer.