Stomach Cancer – A Deadly Cancer That Is Often Overlooked

According to statistics from 2012, stomach cancer was the 5^th most commonly diagnosed cancer (after lung, liver, breast and colon), but it was also the 3^rd most common cause of cancer death because the symptoms generally only become apparent at the advanced stage of the disease. Stomach cancer also spreads faster than colon cancer and it is no less serious than any of the other forms of cancer.

Stomach cancer is the most common cancer among Koreans, with high rates of prevalence also in Mongolia, Japan, Guatemala and China. In Thailand, the incidence of stomach cancer is 5-7 in 100,000 people and it occurs predominantly in people aged between 60-70 years. Incidence rates in men are twice those in women.

The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown. However, the risk factors include a family history of stomach cancer; infection with H. pylori; consumption of certain foods, such as grilled food, red meat and fermented food; and lifestyle factors, such as a lack of physical exercise, drinking, smoking, and insufficient sleep.

The symptoms are not present in the early stages of stomach cancer. The obvious symptoms which appear later include abdominal bloating, a sense of fullness, a loss of appetite, vomiting blood, black-colored stool, severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or paleness. However, we should not wait until these symptoms appear.

Detecting stomach cancer before it develops to a stage where the symptoms become obvious offers the best chance of a full cure. People over the age of 55 who have frequent symptoms of abdominal bloating, peptic ulcer and a burning sensation in the abdomen should undergo an endoscopic screening. People aged between 30-40 years who continue to have these symptoms after taking their medication should also undergo an endoscopic screening as well. People with a family history of stomach cancer should undergo an endoscopic screening even earlier than normal people.

Testing for H. pylori can be conducted with an endoscopy, a blood test, a breath test and a stool sample analysis. The bacteria can counteract the acidic conditions in the stomach by making ammonia, an alkaline compound that neutralizes acid. By producing this protective substance, the bacteria avoid destruction and are able to attack the stomach, causing chronic inflammations and turning to cancer cells over time.

Early detection of this type of cancer increases the chances of successful treatment. Endoscopy screening takes less than 15 minutes. If tumors are found, tissue samples can be collected to determine the type and stage of cancer. If cancer is found, doctors may need to remove a portion of the stomach. However, if the cancer is found in its early stage, endoscopic surgery will reduce pain and hemorrhaging with a smaller incision, quicker recovery and more efficient results. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, chemotherapy and abdominal surgery will be performed to remove part of the stomach and destroy the cancer cells in other organs.

An annual check-up is a must for detecting cancers in their early stages. It is also important to eat healthy food, exercise regularly and avoid risk factors, because when the symptoms appear, it may be too late.