STOMACH CANCER

(Gastric Carcinoma)

 Basic information

description

Stomach cancer is a growth of cancer cells in the stomach. It most often affects adults over age 50 and is more common in men than in women. Most people do not have symptoms until the disease is advanced.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Early stages:
  • Vague symptoms of indigestion, such as fullness, burping, nausea, and poor appetite.
• Later stages:
  • Unexplained weight loss.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Vomiting blood.
  • Black stools.
  • Fullness after eating small amounts.
  • Pain in the stomach.
  • Mass in the stomach that can be felt (sometimes).

causes

Exact cause is unknown. Genetic and environmental factors are involved.

risk increases with

• Age over 50. Men are more at risk than women.
• Tobacco use.
• Helicobacter pylori infection (a bacterial infection of the stomach).
• Diet that includes high amounts of smoked, pickled, and salted foods; and low amounts of protein, fresh fruits, and green, leafy vegetables. Lack of exercise.
• Pernicious anemia (unable to absorb vitamin B-12).
• Family history of stomach cancer.
• Gastritis (chronic stomach inflammation).
• Stomach polyps or stomach surgery.
• Certain racial groups (Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and African American).

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• There are no specific preventive measures. Changing some lifestyle behaviors may help lower the risks.
  • Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Lose weight if overweight.
  • Don't smoke. If you do smoke, try to quit.
• To help find stomach cancer early, don't ignore symptoms of indigestion that last more than a few days. Ask your health care provider about doing a yearly home test for blood in the stool.
• Treatment for an ongoing Helicobacter pylori infection as a cancer preventive step is being researched.

expected outcomes

Early diagnosis and treatment offer the best outcome. A complete cure is possible. The outcome will vary for patients with a more advanced stage of cancer.

possible complications

• Spread of cancer to other parts of the body.
• Treatment complications often occur.
• Cancer is diagnosed too late for effective treatment.

 diagnosis & treatment

general measures

• Your health care provider will do a physical exam and ask questions about your symptoms. A number of medical tests will be done. The tests first help diagnose the cancer and then determine if it has spread (staging).
• Treatment varies and depends on location and size of tumor, any spread of the cancer, your health, age, and preferences. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or other drug therapy. More than one type of treatment may be recommended.
• Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach is the most common treatment for stomach cancer.
• Drugs to treat the cancer and/or radiation therapy may be used alone or in combination with surgery.
• Treatment may involve steps to relieve symptoms and make you comfortable, rather than treating the cancer.
• To learn more: American Cancer Society; (800) ACS-2345; website: www.cancer.org or National Cancer Institute; (800) 4-CANCER; website: www.cancer.gov.

medications

• Anticancer (chemotherapy) drugs or other drugs for cancer treatment (e.g., biologics) may be prescribed.
• Pain relievers may be prescribed.

activity

As tolerated by your energy level.

diet

Treatments for stomach cancer will affect your eating and drinking habits. Problems can occur right after surgery or weeks to months later. Maintaining a healthy diet can be hard. A dietitian can help you with meal planning.

 notify our office if

• You or a family member has symptoms of stomach cancer.
• New or changed symptoms occur with treatment.

Special Notes: