Pay attention to protect from stomach cancer!

Stomach cancer is known to be one of the most common cancers worldwide. Among the factors that cause stomach cancer are malnutrition habits and smoking. In order to avoid stomach cancer, it is very important to be conscious and careful about this, to avoid risk factors and not to neglect regular scans. . . Prof. Dr. İsmail Gömceli from Memorial Health Group Medstar Antalya Hospital General Surgery Department gave information about stomach cancer and precautions.

Stomach cancer progresses stealthily

Stomach cancers tend to develop gradually over many years. Before the cancer develops, pre-cancer changes often occur in the inner surface of the stomach, that is, the mucosa. These early changes rarely cause complaints and are often unnoticed. As the cancer develops, it moves deeper into the stomach wall. The tumour may grow to include nearby organs such as the liver and pancreas. Cancers that start in different parts of the stomach can cause different complaints and have different consequences. The location of cancer can also affect treatment options. For example, cancers starting from the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach are usually treated similarly to oesophageal cancers.

The factors that cause stomach cancer are as follows;

The main cause of stomach cancer is genetic changes that cause the cells on the stomach surface to grow rapidly and eventually form a tumour. Risk factors that may increase a person's risk of getting stomach cancer include:

• Male Gender.
• History of stomach cancer in the family.
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection.
• Dietary habits with high salt content.
• Dietary habits poor in fruits and vegetables
• Reflux disease.

Beware of these symptoms that may be a sign of stomach cancer!

1. Nausea and Vomiting.
2. Difficulty in swallowing.
3. Painful burning sensation in the chest.
4. Weight loss.
5. Spitting blood (in advanced stages).

It is necessary to find out how much of the stomach wall it covers.

Several different tests can be used to help diagnose Stomach cancer. Radiological tests such as Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance imaging can help determine if the tumour in the stomach is large enough. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is used to diagnose or detect early cancer before a mass grows large enough to be seen in radiological tests. In this method, which also enables biopsy from the tumour, an examination is performed by entering the stomach with a thin camera from the mouth. “Endoscopic ultrasound” or PET/CT examination, a special type of endoscope, can be used to find out how much of a tumour covers the stomach wall and to help assess the “stage” of cancer.

Treatment is planned according to the location of the tumour

There are several approaches to treating Stomach cancer. If there is a stomach cancer in the early stage, the tumour can be removed by the "endoscopic submucosal dissection" method through upper endoscopy. When the tumour extends beyond the superficial layers of the stomach, surgery is performed to remove all or part of the stomach containing the tumour. Apart from this, radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments are other treatment methods in which radiation beams and drugs are used to kill tumour cells. Today; surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are complementary components of Stomach cancer treatment.

Pay attention to prevent stomach cancer;

Stomach cancer can be prevented or the risk of cancer can be minimized with the following practices.

• To acquire a healthy diet habit rich in fruits and vegetables, poor in salt and red meat.
• Maintaining healthy weight and acquiring regular exercise habits.
• Not to smoke and not to be in smoking environments.
• If there is a history of cancer in the family, to have regular screening tests.

Prepared by the Medical Editorial Board. Our health library contents have been prepared for informational purposes only and with the scientific content on the registration date. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis or treatment about your health, please consult your doctor or health institution.