Roughly 23,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United states. It is 10 times more common in Japan, occurring more frequently in men than in women and in African-Americans. The average age at the time of diagnosis is 60 years. Unfortunately, most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages when cure is not possible.
CAUSES OF STOMACH CANCER
The actual cause of stomach cancer is unknown. However, people with blood type A and a history of pernicious anemia are at a greater risk of developing this cancer.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Cancer of the stomach can grow for a long time without causing any problems. Most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages and present with any of the following signs:
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Nausea, vomiting, vomiting blood.
• Anemia
The treatment of stomach cancer depends on the results of tests and your overall health.
• People with advanced heart and lung disease may not tolerate aggressive therapy.
• In many cases, the stomach cancer may have advanced too far for any available treatment to work.
• You will require surgery to be cured. Your stomach is removed entirely, and your esophagus is attached to your small intestine.
• Surgery may relieve symptoms of obstruction. The upper end of your stomach is connected to your small bowel, bypassing the area of obstruction.
• Companion treatment with either chemotherapy or radiation may improve your survival following surgery.
• After your stomach has been removed, your doctor will monitor your disease with repeat CT scans of your abdomen and gastrointestinal endoscopy to make sure the cancer does not return.
PREVENTION
• The number of stomach cancers has decreased because of the following:
o Improved socioeconomic standards
o Widespread use of refrigeration for food preservation
o Adoption of diets rich in fruits and vegetables
• In areas where frequency of stomach cancer remains high, such as Japan, screening programs that include upper GI barium studies and, more recently, gastrointestinal endoscopy have improved survival rates.
• Doctors are finding more cases at an early stage of development.
• Eliminating Helicobacter pylori infection in people with peptic ulcer disease also may decrease rates of stomach cancer.
• It has been suggested that people who had portions of their stomachs removed 20 years ago or longer should receive yearly endoscopies. This is because of the increased risk of stomach cancer following such surgery.
• Evidence does not support mass screening of populations with lower rates of stomach cancer.
