Stomach cancer
What's the scoop?
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, starts in the stomach where food is held and broken down. It can start anywhere in the stomach, however it is much more likely to happen at the top of the stomach where the esophagus is located (the tube food travels through from the mouth to the stomach).
There are a lot of symptoms for stomach cancer, however it is common to have tummy pain, such as when you might have eaten too much, so having a few of the listed symptoms does not mean that you will have stomach cancer. However, if you do have persisting symptoms, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional.
Who's most at risk?
Certain factors can increase a person's chance of developing stomach cancer including
- previous diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease
- obesity
- frequently eating salty and smoked foods
- not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- family history of stomach cancer
- stomach polyps
- smoking
- long-term stomach inflammation (also known as gastritis)
- an infection ith helicobacter pylori (a bacteria found in the stomach)
Is there any way to reduce my risk?
While disease or family history may be difficult to avoid, stomach cancer can be prevented by
- maintaining a healthy weight for your size
- reducing intake of salty and smoked food while increasing the amount of fruits and veggies you eat
- quitting smoking
Diagnosis & Treatment
To determine stomach cancer, a doctor may perform an upper endoscopy, where a thin camera is inserted down the throat into the stomach. During the endoscopy they may also take a sample of tissue (biopsy), and finally, they may also do scans to see further, such as a CT scan or an X-ray.
If cancer is confirmed, the doctor might do further tests depending on what they've found to see if the cancer has spread.
A common treatment of stomach cancer is surgery. In early stages of the cancer they might operate via the thoat to remove the tumors from the stomach lining. If the cancer is more advanced, the doctor may suggest a subtotal gastrectomy or a total gastrectomy in which part or all of the stomach is removed respectfully.
Other surgery might include the removal of lymph nodes in the torso near the stomach to determine if the cancer has spread.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also used to treat stomach cancer depending on the case, and often they will be used together.
Targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy may also be used as treatment options in addition to chemo if the cancer is more advanced. Targeted drug therapy works to find weakness within the cancer cells and tries to kill them, while immunotherapy boosts your immune system to fight the cancer
What's the scoop?
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, starts in the stomach where food is held and broken down. It can start anywhere in the stomach, however it is much more likely to happen at the top of the stomach where the esophagus is located (the tube food travels through from the mouth to the stomach).
There are a lot of symptoms for stomach cancer, however it is common to have tummy pain, such as when you might have eaten too much, so having a few of the listed symptoms does not mean that you will have stomach cancer. However, if you do have persisting symptoms, it is important to get checked out by a medical professional.
Who's most at risk?
Certain factors can increase a person's chance of developing stomach cancer including
- previous diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease
- obesity
- frequently eating salty and smoked foods
- not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- family history of stomach cancer
- stomach polyps
- smoking
- long-term stomach inflammation (also known as gastritis)
- an infection ith helicobacter pylori (a bacteria found in the stomach)
Is there any way to reduce my risk?
While disease or family history may be difficult to avoid, stomach cancer can be prevented by
- maintaining a healthy weight for your size
- reducing intake of salty and smoked food while increasing the amount of fruits and veggies you eat
- quitting smoking
Diagnosis & Treatment
To determine stomach cancer, a doctor may perform an upper endoscopy, where a thin camera is inserted down the throat into the stomach. During the endoscopy they may also take a sample of tissue (biopsy), and finally, they may also do scans to see further, such as a CT scan or an X-ray.
If cancer is confirmed, the doctor might do further tests depending on what they've found to see if the cancer has spread.
A common treatment of stomach cancer is surgery. In early stages of the cancer they might operate via the thoat to remove the tumors from the stomach lining. If the cancer is more advanced, the doctor may suggest a subtotal gastrectomy or a total gastrectomy in which part or all of the stomach is removed respectfully.
Other surgery might include the removal of lymph nodes in the torso near the stomach to determine if the cancer has spread.
Chemotherapy and radiation are also used to treat stomach cancer depending on the case, and often they will be used together.
Targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy may also be used as treatment options in addition to chemo if the cancer is more advanced. Targeted drug therapy works to find weakness within the cancer cells and tries to kill them, while immunotherapy boosts your immune system to fight the cancer
Symptom list:
Stomach cancer
Financial support
Not all of us are able to afford the treatment we need. Search your insurance coverage, or check out what charities may be able to offer you for your condition.
p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.
Emotional support
Whether it's a free counseling session or to find someone with a similar diagnosis, these Germie approved charities might be able to help. Click to explore their offerings!
