Stomach Cancer Treatment

Around 1.1 million people in the world are affected by stomach cancer. The illness, also known as gastric cancer, occurs in the lining of the stomach. It mostly develops in the form of tumors and poses serious health problems. Stomach cancer causes are regular infections, overexposure to high doses of radiation, specific genetics or family history of a stomach-related disease, and overconsumption of drugs and alcohol. Stomach cancer treatment options are medications, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.  

Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer are abdominal pain, nausea, bloating, vomiting, loss of appetite etc. Early diagnosis is a better solution for this cancer because at its advanced stage it can be worse and pose multiple health issues including organ failure, and leads to death as well. 

Causes of Stomach Cancer

Multiple risk factors are involved in the occurrence of stomach cancer, including age, food choices, race, genetics, infections, and more. According to several medical reports, stomach cancer affects males more than females. Furthermore, the chances of developing gut cancer are higher in the elderly, those who are 60 to 70 years old. However, these are not fully considered the main causes of stomach cancer, there are some other risk factors as well, which are mentioned below:

Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Pylori is a type of bacteria which is responsible for causing stomach cancer. It usually occurs in the stomach and often leads to gut cancer. This causes symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, frequent burping, weight loss etc. Asian, American and African people are more vulnerable to this type of stomach cancer. 

Diet Factors

Good and bad diets play a crucial role in health performance. If someone takes processed food in their diet, there are higher chances of stomach cancer occurring in him. Bad food choices like preserved food, over salty foods also increase the risk of stomach cancer. There everyone should avoid packed food and involve vitamins and proteins in the daily diet to be fit and healthy.

Overconsumption of Alcohol and Tobacco

Excessive smoking, Alcohol, and tobacco also pose the risk of having stomach cancer. Overconsumption of alcohol and tobacco decrease the stomach lining and affect overall stomach health. As a consequence a person goes through with a lot of health issues and discomfort and lead to cancer.

Environmental Factors

Certain Environmental exposure also poses stomach cancer risks. These environments include working in coal dust areas, working in steel industries etc. These environmental and occupational hazards are also the cause of gut cancer in a person.

Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis inflammation is also associated with stomach lining and often leads to several health issues and increases the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Certain Type of Genetics

Family history and certain types of genetics too, contributes to the occurrence of stomach cancer in individuals.  

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

The following are the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer:   

• Frequent gut infections
• Sudden Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Indigestion and Regular Discomfort
• Abdominal Pain      
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Blood in Urine, Stool, and Vomiting

Types of Stomach Cancer 

Stomach cancer is categorized into various types on the basis of certain types of cells and stomach area where the cancer cells developed. Here is mentioned four primary types of stomach cancer are:

• Adenocarcinoma: This is a primary type of cancer, measured in 90 to 95 cases. It starts to develop in the glandular cells, which are responsible for producing mucus and significant digestive enzymes in the stomach to support the digestive system and overall well-being . 
• Lymphoma: Gastric lymphoma is a rare cancer that takes place in the lymphatic tissue of the stomach’s inner wall. This often includes the B cells of the immune system. 
• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: GISTs are the type of stomach tumors that mostly occur in the connective tissues of the stomach. It badly affects the digestive system of a person and overall well-being.  
• Carcinoma Tumor: These unique kinds of tumors develop in the hormone-producing cells. They grow slowly and not show any signs or symptoms until they reach their advanced stage.  

How can Stomach Cancer be Diagnosed?

There are various types of tests done by the doctors to check the occurrence in stomach, these tests are:

• Endoscopy: This is a type of medical test done by doctors to check what is in the body. It involves a tube known as an endoscope which is inserted by the esophagus into the stomach with anesthesia and specific medicine to relax the patient. Through this test doctors identify where the cancer cells are developing.  
• Physical Checkup Including Blood Tests: When a person is suffering from cancer symptoms, medical experts do some blood tests and physical assessment in order to recognize the condition and cancer stage. 
• Biopsy: Through biopsy doctors take and collect tissues of the stomach just to check what is happening in the stomach. The collected tissues go for the lab test to confirm where the cancer cells are developing. 
• X-ray and CT scans Tests: Doctors do X-rays and CT scans in some cases to check the presence of cancer cells in the stomach. Through X-rays they check the exact shape and location of the tumor in the gut. By doing these tests they get a clear image or picture of the tumor forming in the stomach.  

Options for Stomach Cancer Treatment

• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves certain types of drugs, specifically designed to kill the cancerous cells. When the tumor or harmful cells takes place and continues to grow this condition is known as cancer. Hence doctors do chemotherapy to kill and reduce the cancerous cells from the stomach. Chemotherapy done by the medical experts in the form of IVS, injections, medications and more. 
• Targeted Therapy: Those patients who are in the condition to undergo a surgery, in this case doctors do targeted therapy, these given to the patient in the form of medications and injections. 
• Surgery: If the patient’s condition is stable enough to perform the surgery, medical experts confidently opt for the surgery in order to remove tumor or targeted cells, which are causing cancer in the stomach. Surgery is an effective stomach cancer treatment to remove cancer from the body.  
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is also an effective cancer treatment performed by technical experts to shrink the size of tumor and cancer cells. This is most often done right before the surgery to reduce the surgery challenges. 
• Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is an advanced cancer treatment. In this treatment doctors give some substances to cancer patients to boost their immune system to fight with cancer cells. This is also known as biological treatment which is prepared with white blood cells and healthy organ tissues. 
• Palliative Care: Palliative is the best option for stomach cancer treatment is used to overcome the cancer symptoms and stabilize the patient’s condition. The primary focus of this treatment is to manage pain and side effects.