Stomach cancer

The abnormal growth of cells in the stomach is known as stomach cancer. The stomach is a muscular reservoir located in the upper middle portion of the abdomen. The function of the stomach is to receive food from the esophagus and break it down before passing it to the lower digestive tract.

Stomach cancer can affect any part of the stomach. In most cases around the world, it occurs in the main body of the stomach. In the USA, it generally occurs in the area where the esophagus connects with the stomach. This area is known as the gastroesophageal junction.

It is worth mentioning here that the location of cancer in the stomach is a significant factor that doctors and surgeons consider while formulating the cancer treatment plan. The most common way of treating stomach cancer is to remove cancer cells through surgery. Other treatment options are usually considered before and after surgery.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer include the following.

• Feeling bloated after eating
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling full after eating food in a small amount
• Heartburn
• Pain in the stomach
• Vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea

If you notice any signs that seem concerning to you, you may need to consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor will run some tests to determine whether or not you have cancer.

Causes

The causes of stomach cancer are not yet known, but research tells us about the factors that heighten the risk.

The internal reason for the formation of cancer in the stomach is the change in the DNA of cells in it. This change results in the quick growth of cells when other healthy cells would die. The accumulation of these cells forms a tumor which can destroy the healthy tissues of the stomach. These cells can spread in the stomach and also to the other organs of the body.

Risk factors for stomach cancer

Factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer include:

• Obesity
• Diet high in salts
• Not eating fruits and vegetables
• Long-term stomach inflammation
• Smoking
• Polyps in the stomach
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Prevention

There are some ways you can prevent the risk of stomach cancer.

• Make sure to maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight or obese, speak to your doctor about the strategy to reduce your weight. The process of reducing weight should be slow and steady.
• Make sure to eat more fruits and vegetables. You can ask your nutritionist to suggest you the best diet plan in this regard.
• Reducing the amount of salty and smoked foods can also reduce the risk of stomach cancer.
• If you smoke, consider quitting this habit because it serves no good. It can heighten the chance of the risk of cancer in the stomach and other areas and organs of the body. If quitting smoking seems too hard, you may want to talk to your doctor.
• If you think that you have an increased risk of stomach cancer, you may want to discuss it with your doctor. The doctor will run several tests and analyses to help you with the prevention.