A Family Doctor's Tale - STOMACH CANCER

DOC I HAVE STOMACH CANCER

 Stomach cancer can affect young people and older people. 
Men are more often affected than women. So far the patients that I have seen were mostly men. One was a 27 year patient whom I sent for gastroscopy for suspected gastric ulcer. The surgeon who did the gastroscopy did a biopsy of the ulcer region. The biopsy showed very early cancer cells. He was treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy. Now after 10 years he is in perfect health.
The patient involved a 62 year old man who is still undergoing chemotherapy but his prognosis is poor.
The incidence of stomach is apparently higher in people with Blood group A and also those with helicobacter pylori infection.

Stomach cancer (also called “gastric cancer”) is the growth of abnormal cells in the lining and wall of the stomach which mutates and proliferates giving rise to the stomach cancer growth. Stomach Cancer can spread to the surrounding organs like liver,pancreas and colon. Once in the blood stream it can spread to the brain, bones and kidneys.

1. Chronic Helicobacter pylori bacteria infection.
This bacteria is found in the stomach and has been found to cause gastric ulcers and stomach cancer.
2. family history of stomach cancer
3. frequent consumption of preserved or smoked food such as salted vegetables,fish,meat. Cancer causing nitrosamines are released when these food are cooked.
4.previous stomach surgery with partial removal of stomach (gastric ulcers or polyps)
5. Pernicious anaemia- a rare blood disorder
6. Smoking
7. Men are affected more than women
8. Age above 50 years of age
9.People with blood group A has a higher risk

In the early stages, stomach cancer  may have no symptoms. As it spread it can cause the following symptoms:
1.Indigestion, stomach discomfort or heartburn
2.A fullness feeling or bloating after eating a small meal
3. loss of appetite
4.Nausea or belching
5. Feeling tired
When the cancer is larger, it can cause the following symptoms:
1.Stomach pain
2.Vomiting
3.Blood in your stool or black tarry stools
4.Unexplained weight loss
5.pallor

Many of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions besides cancer. So the earlier stomach cancer is found, the better are the chances of it being cured.

Diagnosis of stomach cancer is based on:
1.medical history and  complete physical exam.
2.Abdominal X-ray for any other condition in the abdomen causing pain
3.Gastroscopy:  a thin, lighted tube is put into your mouth and passed down to your stomach.
4.Biopsy: During gastrocopy, a small piece of your suspicious stomach tissue is taken to check for cancer cells. This is called a biopsy sample which is then examined under a microscope for cancer cells.

Treatment for stomach cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments.
The choice of treatment depends on whether the cancer is just in the stomach or if it has spread to other places in the body.
A person’s age and overall health will also affect the choice of treatment.
Surgery
Surgery is still the best form of treatment for stomach cancer.
For smaller cancers -partial removal of the stomach is done. In early stages cure rate is about 90%.
For later stages of cancer, the whole stomach including the spleen and surrounding tissues may be removed.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is used in conjunction with surgery in later stges of cancer. 

Radiotherapy:
Radiation can help to kill the cancer cells surrounding the stomach cancer as well as to relieve pain.

There is no way to prevent stomach cancer.
However, you can help reduce your risk of getting stomach cancer by:
Living a healthy lifestyle
Not drinking a lot of alcohol or smoking.
Avoid preserved food
Treat H.pyrori infections of the stomach early.
Eat a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables, and vitamin C. Vitamin C is found in foods such as oranges, grapefruit and broccoli.