Gastric Cancer
- Gastric cancer is the most common type of cancer that develops in the stomach. Several factors increase the risk, including:
- Long-term H. pylori infection leading to chronic atrophic gastritis, metaplasia, or dysplasia
- Gastric adenomas
- Smoking
- Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
- Juvenile polyposis
- Peutz–Jeghers syndrome
- Obesity
- Cigarette smoking (listed twice because it is a major risk factor)
Common Symptoms:
Patients with gastric cancer may experience:
- Vomiting
- Vomiting blood (hematemesis)
- Abdominal pain
- Feeling full soon after eating
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
Diagnosis and Staging:
- Endoscopy is the primary and most accurate test for diagnosing gastric cancer. It may reveal an ulcer with raised edges or a visible mass in the stomach.
- CECT scan of the abdomen is performed for every patient to determine whether the tumor can be surgically removed.
- PET scan has a limited role but may be used in select cases.
Treatment of Gastric Cancer:
- Surgery is the preferred treatment when the tumor is resectable.
- For advanced-stage disease, chemotherapy helps relieve symptoms, improve survival, and may shrink the tumor enough to make surgery possible later.