Stomach cancer has several different symptoms and may not be immediately apparent. The signs and symptoms can vary widely from person to person and depend on the stage and location of the tumor as well as the extent of the cancer to nearby tissues and organs. The most common symptoms include vomiting blood or dark, sticky feces. If the cancer has spread to the intestines, other symptoms may be more severe and include bowel obstruction, fractures, neurologic changes, and fluid in the abdomen.
A doctor will usually stage your stomach cancer using the AJCC staging system. This means that a tumor that affects the gastroesophageal junction, cardia, or esophagus will be staged similarly to esophageal cancers. Doctors will also consider whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes in the other part of the body. Surgical treatment may be necessary if it has spread beyond the stomach.
Symptoms of stomach cancer may be similar to those of other gastric diseases, such as indigestion and heartburn. Early symptoms can be due to other health problems, such as anemia and pregnancy. Tests can also include biopsy, which is a small sample of tissue that may be used to diagnose the condition. Once a biopsy has been performed, it is important to know what to expect from treatment. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, your doctor may decide to prescribe a treatment plan for you based on the results.
To diagnose stomach cancer, your healthcare provider will examine your symptoms, ask about your health history, and examine your gastrointestinal organs. Your healthcare provider may also order a blood test called fecal occult or a GI series. Depending on the stage of the cancer, your physician may decide to perform a biopsy. A biopsy requires a small piece of tissue to be removed from the stomach to determine if cancer has spread. A biopsy will take about one week to return results.
Often, stomach cancer runs in families. Having a first-degree relative with stomach cancer increases the risk. However, in rare cases, stomach cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes and organs. It is rare for stomach cancer to spread to distant organs. The cancer typically begins in the mucosa and spreads to the deeper layers of the stomach. This type of cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and organs but may not spread to them.
Some cancer treatments may include chemotherapy. This therapy involves drugs and substances that work against cancer cells while sparing normal cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy is one example of targeted therapy and is commonly used in gastric cancer. It is important to see your doctor if you experience any stomach cancer symptoms. They will ask you about your family and medical history, and will check for any lumps or tenderness in your stomach. However, chemotherapy is not a cure for stomach cancer, so it is important to seek out treatment as soon as possible.
While the risk of developing stomach cancer is relatively low, it is still higher in men than women. Statistics from the U.S. National Cancer Institute state that approximately 28,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in the U.S. every year. In fact, it is the fifteenth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. On the other hand, stomach cancer affects men and women of all races and ethnicities. It is more common among people of African and Hispanic heritage. Most often, the disease affects people who are 65 and older.
