What are gastric cancer symptoms? First, gastric cancer is a malignant tumor which forms in the lining of the stomach. Early on the symptoms are progressive loss of appetite, indigestion, blood in the stools, heartburn, mild nausea, bloated feeling after eating, and vomiting. Late symptoms are pain which is often induced by eating or relieved by vomiting, anemia, weight loss, jaundice, ascites, trouble swallowing, abdominal mass, or epigastric mass. Other symptoms may appear, such as breath odor, excessive belching and excessive gas. It happens more in men than women.

What causes gastric cancer? It is believe that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), and infection causes the majority of gastric cancer. If you are blood type A, you are at a higher risk of developing gastric cancer. Gastritis, pernicious anemia, gastric polyps, and intestinal metaplasia, diets high in salty foods or low fruits and vegetables and smoking are other causes.

How is gastric cancer diagnosed? First the doctor will take a health history from you. You show state signs of weight loss and fatigue over the months. Your local doctor can perform blood chemistry studies, a CBC (complete blood count), and an occult stool study. An upper endoscopy can be performed which will allow your doctor to obtain tissue samples. Your doctor can order a barium swallow and a CT scan. Bone or liver scans can help to determine the extent of said disease. Most of the time, the disease is in advanced stages when diagnosed. There is little cure for this disease. Gastric cancer prognosis is not good because only a minimal amount of patients are cured from the gastric resection.

What is the gastric cancer treatment? The only successful treatment is gastric resection surgery. It is the surgical removal of part of the stomach and can be removal of all of the stomach and partial removal of the intestines or pancreas. A Billroth I or II may be performed if the tumor is in the lower part of the stomach. Treatment may include chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

What are the gastric cancer staging and the survival rates?

• Stage 0 – greater than 90%
• Stage IA – 60-80%
• Stage IB – 50-60%
• Stage II – 30-40%
• Stage IIIA – 20%
• Stage IIIB – 10%
• Stage IV – less than 5%

After surgery, the patient should eat small, frequent meals. The diet should consist of foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Foods to avoid are milk, chocolate, salt, foods high in sugar, and fibrous fruits (skins and seeds). You must chew your food well. Reduce fluids with your meal. After surgery, you are trying to prevent Dumping Syndrome. Dumping Syndrome is the excessively rapid emptying of the gastric contents. Also, vitamin B12 supplements are essential.

The use of refrigeration has decreased the number of people diagnosed with gastric cancer and caused a decrease in the disease, as well as, gastric cancer symptoms.

Abdominal bloating