Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is a result of direct cell changes in the lining of the stomach. Fifty years ago stomach tumors usually were located near to the where the stomach joined with the bowel however, today, stomach cancer is most prevelant where the stomach meets the esophacus. The causes of stomach cancer is still an ongoing debate between medics with the main culprits assumed to be a combination of heredity (genes inherited by parents) and social environment (smoking, drinking alochol etc.,). Picked foods and smoked foods are also believed to play a major part in the creation of stomach cancer.

Other risks that cause cancer are believed to be linked to people with blood type A with stomach cancer being far more prevelant in men than in women. The sypmtoms of stomach cancer include bleeding in the vomit or bleeding in the faeces. Other common symptoms present when a patient visits a Doctor is that food cannot pass through the digestive system due to being obstructed by the tumor. This is usually the first sign that something is wrong.

Stomach cancer grows very slowly and can proceed on to the liver. Another symptom of stomach cancers is excessive belching which can be very embarassing to a patient. If you are showing any of the above symptoms you should make an appointment with your Doctor immediately who may send you on for a Barium Meal investigation. This involves swallowing of a chalky white substance in a liquid form, you are then given xrays as the liquid passes through your entire system.

In more serious cases a Gastroscopy may be required. During this internal examination the Doctor examines the inside of your stomach using a camera attached to a tube and a biopsy is usually taken in order to ascertain whether the growth is cancerous. Chemotherapy is the normal route taken in order to reduce tumors in the stomach and it has been proven that inoperable tumors after Chemotherapy can be reduced to the size whereby they become operable.