What Are The Main Causes Of Stomach Cancer
There is no single cause of stomach cancer and sometimes it happens without any known risk factors. Lifestyle choices can increase the likelihood of stomach cancer. However, those who experience long-term stomach inflammation from either lifestyle choices or chronic illness are at higher risk.
The are often related to a medical history that includes:
- H. pylori bacterial infections: A common stomach infection that often causes ulcers.
- Tumors: Other tumors occurring elsewhere in the gastrointestinal tract.
- Stomach polyps: Abnormal tissue growth in the stomach lining.
- Stomach reflex
There are lifestyle changes you can make that may decrease your risk of stomach cancer. These include:
- Having a healthy diet and avoiding
- Processed foods
- Salted foods or increased sodium
Risk factors for stomach cancer that you cannot change, include:
- Your age
- Being male
- Being of Asian, South American or Belarusian descent
- Having a family history of stomach cancer
- Having a history of stomach surgery
- Having pernicious anemia, which is a vitamin deficiency that may be related to either lifestyle or disease
Having Another Type Of Cancer
Your risk of developing stomach cancer is increased if you’ve had another type of cancer, such as cancer of the oesophagus or non-Hodgkin lymphoma .
For men, the risk of getting stomach cancer is increased after having prostate cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer or testicular cancer. For women, the risk of developing stomach cancer increases after having ovarian cancer, breast cancer or cervical cancer.
Symptoms Of Gastric Cancer Include Indigestion And Stomach Discomfort Or Pain
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by gastric cancer or by other conditions.
In the early stages of gastric cancer, the following symptoms may occur:
- Indigestion and stomach discomfort.
Check with your doctor if you have any of these problems.
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There Are Three Ways That Cancer Spreads In The Body
Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:
- Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
- Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
- Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.
Unresectable Local Or Regional Cancers
These cancers havent spread to distant parts of the body, but they cant be removed completely with surgery.
Options for the first line of treatment for these cancers might include chemotherapy alone, chemo plus immunotherapy, chemo plus immunotherapy plus the targeted drug trastuzumab , or chemo plus radiation therapy . The stage of the cancer is then reassessed after treatment. Its very important that doctors know the true extent of the cancer at this point. Along with imaging tests like CT and PET scans, other tests such as endoscopic ultrasound or staging laparoscopy might be done.
- If the cancer has shrunk enough with this treatment, surgery to remove the cancer might be an option at this point. This might be a subtotal gastrectomy or total gastrectomy . Nearby lymph nodes are removed as well.
- If the cancer is still unresectable after the initial treatment, further treatment is aimed at controlling the cancer growth for as long as possible and preventing or relieving any problems it causes. This is similar to the treatment of metastatic cancer .
Sometimes, even when the cancer is potentially resectable, a person might not be healthy enough for major surgery, or they might decide not to have it. Treatment for these cancers is typically aimed at controlling the cancer growth for as long as possible and preventing or relieving any problems it causes. This is similar to the treatment of metastatic cancer .
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Surgery To Remove Your Stomach
You may need to have part or all of your stomach removed.
Surgery to remove part of your stomach is known as a partial or sub-total gastrectomy, and surgery to remove all of your stomach is known as a total gastrectomy. In some cases, your surgeon may remove part of your oesophagus as well as all of your stomach, using a procedure known as an oesophagogastrectomy.
These operations may be carried out using either a large incision in your tummy , or a number of smaller incisions through which surgical tools can be passed . Both of these techniques are carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you’ll be unconscious throughout the procedure.
During these operations, your surgeon will also remove the lymph nodes nearest to the cancer. It’s possible that your stomach cancer may have spread to these lymph nodes, and removing them helps prevent the cancer returning.
Avoid High Protein Diet
Protein digesting enzymes like pancreatin can help your body in fighting against cancer. Pancreatin is a digestive protein and also helps in the digestion process. When you consume diet that is rich in protein content, the pancreatic enzymes will be busy in digesting protein and will get less time to concentrate on eradicating cancer.
Thus doctors recommend a protein-free diet that can help in stomach cancer cure.
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Treatment For Stomach Cancer
On this page
The main treatments for stomach cancer are surgery and chemotherapy. Sometimes, radiotherapy or targeted therapy treatments are used. The treatments can be used alone or in combination with each other.
Your treatment for stomach cancer depends on:
- your general health
- your personal choices.
Your cancer doctor and specialist nurse will explain the treatments they think are best for you. They can help you make decisions about your treatment.
We understand that having treatment can be a difficult time for people. We’re here to support you. If you want to talk, you can:
Who Is At Risk For Gastritis
Your risk of acquiring hyperacidity increases as you grow older. Older persons have weaker stomach linings, reduced circulation, and slower metabolism of mucosal healing. Older adults are also more likely to be taking medications that can cause hyperacidity, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . H. pylori infect roughly two-thirds of the worlds population. Older persons and people from lower socioeconomic categories are more likely to have pylori.
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Treatment For Metastatic Cancer
There are treatments for most types of metastatic cancer. Often, the goal of treating metastatic cancer is to control it by stopping or slowing its growth. Some people can live for years with metastatic cancer that is well controlled. Other treatments may improve the quality of life by relieving symptoms. This type of care is called palliative care. It can be given at any point during treatment for cancer.
The treatment that you may have depends on your type of primary cancer, where it has spread, treatments youve had in the past, and your general health. To learn about treatment options, including clinical trials, find your type of cancer among the PDQ® Cancer Information Summaries for Adult Treatment and Pediatric Treatment.
What Causes Stomach Cancer
Your chances of getting stomach cancer are higher if you have had a stomach infection caused by bacteria called Helicobacter pylori . That can cause ulcers in the stomach. Youre also more likely to get stomach cancer if you:
- Are a man
- Are older than 50 years of age
- Have a close relative who has had stomach cancer
- Smoke cigarettes
- Are an African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander
- Have stomach polyps
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Targeted Drug Therapy For Treating Stomach Cancer
Targeted drugs are designed to work on the unique genetic, biological and molecular structures of stomach cancer cells.
Trastuzumab is a drug that targets a certain protein called HER2, which is found to varying degrees in stomach cancer cells. When given with standard chemotherapy, trastuzumab can help some patients with advanced stomach cancer live longer than those treated with chemotherapy alone.
Other types of targeted drug therapies work by preventing the cancer from forming new blood vessels. This stunts the tumors growth and prevents it from spreading. These agents may be given alone or with chemotherapy to patients with advanced stomach cancer.
Targeted Drug Therapy Or Immunotherapy
Targeted drug therapy can be used to treat advanced stomach cancer. These drugs attack specific characteristics of the cancer. Some of these are:
- imatinib , for stromal tumors
- ramucirumab , for advanced stomach cancer when other treatments arent effective
- regorafenib , for stromal tumors
- sunitinib , for stromal tumors
- trastuzumab , for HER2-positive tumors
Immunotherapy drugs boost your immune system to help attack cancer.
Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug used to treat stomach cancer that has returned or spread in people who have tried but didnt respond to or stopped responding to two or more types of chemotherapy.
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After Gastric Cancer Has Been Diagnosed Tests Are Done To Find Out If Cancer Cells Have Spread Within The Stomach Or To Other Parts Of The Body
The process used to find out if cancer has spread within the stomach or to otherparts of the body is called staging. The information gathered from thestaging process determines the stage of the disease. It is important to knowthe stage in order to plan treatment.
The following tests andprocedures may be used in the staging process:
Top 5 Natural Cures For Stomach Cancer
Laughing
Laughter therapy has become popular all over the world and is used to treat many different ailments. Apart from the fact that laughter even if it is artificial will release the happychemicals in the body, which will result in an overall sense of well being and counter negative emotions which are known to cause cancer if withheld for a long time.
At the same time laughter also provides an internal massage which can be a natural cure for stomach cancer for up to 30% of the cure.
Proper Foods
Diet plays an important part in fighting any disease in the body including stomach cancer. Avoid unhealthy foods like processed foods, gluten, and other toxins. Drink a lot of water which will act as a natural cleansing agent.
Eat more of foods that heal, like vegetable juices, fats that heal like Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids and unrefined sea salt. Avoid trans fats, and avoid dairy products. Eat lean meat rather than red meat and try taking protein supplements that are easily available in the market
Exercise
Physical activity is very good for cleansing and balancing the body systems and relieving stress, which is known to contribute to the causes of cancer.
You can choose any gentle exercise, like mini trampoline jumping, walking or jogging amidst nature, rowing, riding or golf. Dancing, martial arts, swimming etc. all add towards creating a natural cure for stomach cancer.
Body Cleansing
Sweating
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Avoid Smoking And Overuse Of Pain Killer
Smoking cigarettes can damage the lining epithelium of the stomach and increases the risk of developing stomach cancer.
Overuse of analgesics such as aspirin and ibuprofen might damage the stomachs lining epithelium aggravating hyperacidity.
You must eliminate these bad habits from your life if you want a solution on how to cure gastritis permanently.
Conventional Treatment Of Dog Stomach Cancer
Unless the cancer form is lymphoma, the conventional treatment of choice for stomach cancer in dogs is surgery, provided that the cancer has not spread to other sites of the body.
Sometimes the tumor is so large that food cannot pass from the stomach to the intestine.
In such cases, a bypass surgery may be necessary. Bypass surgery is not curative. It only provides relief to make the dog feel better and to help him stay alive longer.
Radiation therapy is seldom used to treat canine stomach cancer due to the location of the stomach. Radiation may accidentally harm important organs close by .
Chemotherapy is largely ineffective against stomach cancer.
Unfortunately, stomach cancer in dogs is aggressive and prognosis is poor.
Even with surgery, the survival time for most dogs is less than 6 months .
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If Treatment Does Not Work
Recovery from cancer is not always possible. If the cancer cannot be cured or controlled, the disease may be called advanced or terminal.
This diagnosis is stressful, and for many people, advanced cancer is difficult to discuss. However, it is important to have open and honest conversations with your health care team to express your feelings, preferences, and concerns. The health care team has special skills, experience, and knowledge to support patients and their families and is there to help. Making sure a person is physically comfortable, free from pain, and emotionally supported is extremely important.
People who have advanced cancer and who are expected to live less than 6 months may want to consider hospice care. Hospice care is designed to provide the best possible quality of life for people who are near the end of life. You and your family are encouraged to talk with the health care team about hospice care options, which include hospice care at home, a special hospice center, or other health care locations. Nursing care and special equipment can make staying at home a workable option for many families. Learn more about advanced cancer care planning.
After the death of a loved one, many people need support to help them cope with the loss. Learn more about grief and loss.
Natural Cures For Stomach Cancer
Natural cure for stomach cancer involves a change in the lifestyle that you have been following, cleansing the body of toxins, implementing a healthy diet, proper exercise and natural therapies. The traditional treatment of stomach cancer is done with the help of harsh treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
These not only have harmful side effects but also sometimes fail to cure the cancer especially if it is in an advanced stage. This is when people opt for natural cures which increase the life expectancy of the patient and allow the chemo and radio therapies to do their work. Many times these natural cures themselves cure the patient of the disease.
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What Kind Of Doctor Treats Stomach Cancer
There is a that cares for people with stomach cancer:
- Gastroenterologist: a doctor who specializes in the stomach and intestines
- Surgical oncologist: a doctor who surgically removes cancer tumors and cancerous cells
- Medical oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with oral or systemic medication
- Radiation oncologist: a doctor who specializes in treating cancer with radiation therapy
- Pathologist: a doctor who evaluates cells, tissues and organs and performs other laboratory tests to diagnose disease
- Radiologist: a doctor who uses imaging tests to diagnose disease
Depending on your condition and where you are in your treatment, you may meet with any one of these specialists at a given time.
What Are The Symptoms Of Stomach Cancer
Early-stage stomach cancer often doesnt cause noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, though, patients may experience the following symptoms:
- Bloating: Feeling that the stomach is bloated or very full, even after a small meal, may be a sign that a tumor is obstructing part of the stomach.
- Abdominal pain: General pain in the stomach region with no known cause is a common sign of stomach cancer.
- Unintended weight loss: Trouble eating, loss of appetite, and nausea are symptoms that can lead to unintentional weight loss and should be brought to a doctor’s attention.
- Nausea and vomiting: A more dramatic presentation of abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort may include vomiting, potentially even vomiting blood.
An important point to remember is that these symptoms are also relatively common signs of noncancerous conditions, such as an ulcer or infection. On their own, or even in combination, they do not necessarily mean someone has stomach cancer. But anyone with such symptoms should see a doctor, so that a proper diagnosis can be made and, when needed, treatment can start as soon as possible.
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Diagnosis Of Stomach Cancer
If your doctor thinks you may have stomach cancer, you will be referred for further tests. The main test is an endoscopy . The doctor will use a thin, flexible tube with a camera , which passes into the mouth, down the throat and oesophagus into the stomach in order to look at the digestive tract.
If any suspicious-looking areas are detected, a small amount of tissue from the stomach lining may be removed and examined under a microscope. Less commonly used is an endoscopic ultrasound where the endoscope has an ultrasound probe at the end.
What Are Risk Factors For Stomach Cancer
There are some other factors besides H. pylori that can increase your risk of developing stomach cancer too, Dr. El-Hayek says, such as:
- Smoking.
- Age .
- Being overweight or obese.
- Previous stomach surgery for ulcers.
- Having type A blood.
- A diet high in smoked foods, salted fish and cure meats.
- A family history.
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What Is Metastatic Cancer
In metastasis, cancer cells break away from where they first formed , travel through the blood or lymph system, and form new tumors in other parts of the body. The metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor.
Cancer that spreads from where it started to a distant part of the body is called metastatic cancer. For many types of cancer, it is also called stage IV cancer. The process by which cancer cells spread to other parts of the body is called metastasis.
When observed under a microscope and tested in other ways, metastatic cancer cells have features like that of the primary cancer and not like the cells in the place where the metastatic cancer is found. This is how doctors can tell that it is cancer that has spread from another part of the body.
Metastatic cancer has the same name as the primary cancer. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the lung is called metastatic breast cancer, not lung cancer. It is treated as stage IV breast cancer, not as lung cancer.
Sometimes when people are diagnosed with metastatic cancer, doctors cannot tell where it started. This type of cancer is called cancer of unknown primary origin, or CUP. See the Carcinoma of Unknown Primary page for more information.