In this blog, Best Cancer Surgeon in Bangalore – Dr. Prabhu will be discussing an important topic that all of us need to be aware of. Let’s begin with a case study.
This is the story of Veena Chaturvedi, a professional counselor. She led a life, helping others work through issues in their own lives. She taught them the importance of staying positive during difficult times. Veena was in Bengaluru at her son’s place when she experienced severe pain in the abdomen. The doctors there told her she had a perforated ulcer that would need to be operated on immediately. But even after the initial surgery, the pain returned. The doctor recommended an endoscopy. She had stomach cancer- stage 2
But luckily for her, with the diagnosis done in time, the surgical oncologist annihilated the ulcer and cancerous mass, leaving only a small incision behind.
A buildup of abnormal cells that form a mass in a part of the stomach is called stomach cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stomach cancer caused over 700,000 deaths worldwide.
What are the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer can cause several symptoms, but these symptoms may not be the only reason for diagnosis as they appear much later. Stomach cancer grows very slowly.
Many people with stomach cancer do not receive the right diagnosis until the disease is already advanced.
Early-stage symptoms of stomach cancer include:
- a feeling of fullness in the stomach
- swallowing difficulties
- feeling bloated after meals
- frequent burping
- heartburn
- indigestion that does not resolve
- stomach ache
- pain in the breastbone
- trapped wind
- vomiting with blood
Please note that many of these symptoms are very similar to those of other conditions. But if you are experiencing any of the symptoms, you must seek medical help immediately.
Treatment
Treatment for stomach cancer depends on several factors. It may depend on the patient’s health and the severity of the tumor.
Surgery
Surgery involves the removal of the cancerous tissue along with some healthy tissue surrounding it.
Radiation therapy
This procedure uses radioactive rays to kill cancerous cells. Radiation therapy is rarely used in stomach cancer cases.
If the cancer is advanced or causing severe symptoms, radiation therapy is an option.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a procedure that uses drugs to kill rapidly-growing cancer cells. It is a primary treatment for stomach cancer if it has spread to distant sites in the body.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapies work well in recognizing and attacking specific proteins that cancer cells produce. While chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells, focused medications are also proving to be highly effective in targeting cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
In this type of treatment, the body’s immune system is built up to attack cancer cells.
Who is in Risk?
Certain factors increase the risk of cancer, including
1.Medical conditions
Conditions linked to stomach cancer include:
- H. pylori infection in the stomach
- peptic stomach ulcers
- stomach inflammation
- Deficiency of vitamin B12
- Certain genetic conditions, such as type A blood and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, add to the risk of stomach cancer.
2. Smoking
Long term smoking may lead to an increased risk of stomach cancer.
3. Family history
If a close family member has stomach cancer, it can be considered as a risk.
4. Diet
People who regularly eat food with high salt content, dried foods, and spices, crude vegetable oil may be at a higher risk.
5. Age
The risk of developing stomach cancer increases if the patient is aged above 60 years.
6. Gender
Men are more likely to get stomach cancer.
Prevention
As with other diseases, stomach cancer cannot be prevented from occurring altogether. But yes, we can take certain precautions to reduce the chances.
1. Diet
We recommend reducing the quantity of pickled, salted food in the diet. Have whole-grain cereals, bread, and pasta. Replace red meat with beans, fish, and poultry.
2. Smoking
Smoking must be avoided at all costs.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Aspirin or ibuprofen may reduce the risk of stomach cancer. But please be aware that these drugs may cause life-threatening internal bleeding.
So what is the overall Outlook?
If the patient consults the right doctor and gets the diagnosis and treatment before stomach cancer spreads, the 5-year survival rate is 68%. But if cancer spreads into deeper tissues in the stomach, this reduces to 30%.
If the diagnosis gets further delayed and Once the stomach cancer reaches distant organs, the rate drops to 5%.
So remember, early diagnosis is the only key to improving the Outlook for stomach cancer.