If you’ve been diagnosed with stomach cancer, you probably want to know about the various stages and how they’re classified. Stage 0 indicates that the cancer is still in the stomach’s inner layer, and stage IV indicates that it has spread to lymph nodes or distant organs. Stomach cancer is staged according to its location, and treatment options depend on its stage. If it has not spread to lymph nodes or distant organs, the main option for treatment is surgery.
During this procedure, a thin camera called an endoscope is inserted into the stomach. The physician then uses the camera to look inside and look for signs of cancer. A small sample of blood may be taken and sent to a laboratory for analysis. In some cases, a doctor may also perform imaging tests in an effort to detect stomach cancer. CT scans and barium swallow X-rays may also be used to detect stomach cancer.
Immunotherapy, which uses medicines to encourage the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells, is also an option. Immunotherapy is a type of medication that interferes with the process that cancer cells use to be recognized by the immune system. Depending on the stage of the disease, immunotherapy is sometimes used to treat advanced stomach cancer that has spread and come back. For patients with advanced stomach cancer, targeted therapy is an excellent choice.
The risks of stomach cancer are reduced if you quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, and limit your intake of smoked foods. Additionally, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is beneficial. Consuming fewer red meats and limiting salt consumption is also recommended. However, the treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection is not known. However, patients who suffer from hereditary diffuse gastric cancer should consult a gastroenterologist to get the appropriate diagnosis.
Several factors increase the risk of stomach cancer. Certain lifestyle choices, genetics, and even the age at which you develop a disease can increase your chances of developing it. The risk of stomach cancer is twice as high in men as it is in women, and it is twice as common in non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, and African Americans. Those who have these risk factors are at greater risk for developing the disease than those who do not.
While there are four different types of stomach cancer, most are classified into two types: adenocarcinomas and lymphomas. While adenocarcinomas are the most common type of stomach cancer, there are also gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which arise in the connective tissues of the stomach. And finally, there is neuroendocrine cancer, which originates in the intestine’s endocrine system.
Early stage stomach cancer has a 69.9% five-year survival rate compared to late stage cancer. Treatment plans for stomach cancer are dependent on its stage and origin. Treatment options will also depend on the age of the patient. However, some medications and treatments are known to reduce the risk of stomach cancer. These include chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. This type of cancer may recur after treatment, so it is important to seek treatment early.
