Stomach cancer
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Stomach cancer is the most common oncological disease of the digestive system. The tumor develops from the mucosal epithelium and can be located in various parts of the stomach. Timely detection and proper treatment provide high chances of recovery and no relapses in the future.
Every year, about 750,000 people die from stomach cancer worldwide (according to WHO). Recent decades have shown a tendency toward a decrease in the incidence of the disease in general, but very unevenly across countries. Among all existing oncological diseases, stomach cancer is in fifth place in frequency, and in third place in mortality.
At the first stage of cancer, the five-year survival rate reaches 57%, at the second – 46%, at the third – 20%, and at the fourth – 4%. Therefore, it is so important to promptly contact specialists and begin treatment.
The Humanitas clinic practices interdisciplinary diagnostics and treatment, which involves specialists from different fields to accurately diagnose and develop a treatment program individually for each patient. This in turn allows for better prognoses.
Risk factors and symptoms of the disease
The following factors can trigger cancer:
A small amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. At the same time – an abundance of meat, smoked foods, fried foods, stale products, etc.
Consumption of various nitrates and nitrites, the amount of which has increased in the modern market.
Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
Also, among the significant factors, experts highlight:
adenomatous polyps in the stomach;
previous stomach diseases;
Helicobacter pylori infection;
stomach ulcer;
excess weight;
genetic predisposition.
In the early stages, the disease manifests mainly general and non-specific symptoms. There may be discomfort in the stomach, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. Or, at first, there may be no symptoms at all.
The following symptoms are a reason to immediately consult a doctor:
frequent pain just above the navel, along with loss of appetite and nausea;
difficulty swallowing (indicates that the tumor affects the upper part of the stomach);
a feeling of complete satiety even when eating small portions of food;
constant fatigue and continuous weight loss;
vomiting with blood or contents that resemble coffee grounds.
Even if the symptoms turn out to be caused by another disease and not oncology, it is better to undergo an examination to make sure that there is no cancer. And if there is, to start professional treatment as soon as possible.
Diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer
For the purpose of accurate diagnosis, a large range of methods is used to detect a tumor, its location and size, as well as to establish the presence of metastases, the degree of growth of the primary focus, etc.
Basic diagnostic measures include:
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – examination of the mucosa to determine the specifics of a particular tumor. During the procedure, a sample of tumor tissue is also taken for subsequent histological examination.
Endoscopic ultrasound is a method that allows you to accurately determine how much the tumor has grown into the tissues of the stomach and other organs. Plus, regional lymph nodes are examined for damage. It is at the endoscopic ultrasound stage that specialists can already decide on the operability of the tumor.
Computed tomography is a study that accurately detects regional and distant metastases.
Laparoscopy is a visualization method that allows determining the extent of tumor spread in the peritoneum.
Additionally, the following may be used: blood and urine tests for oncological markers, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, gastroscopy, chest X-ray, etc.
The main method of treatment is surgery , which removes tumor tissue and affected parts of the stomach. In some cases, the stomach and adjacent organs need to be removed. At Humanitas, such operations are performed using a minimally invasive laparoscopic method, which ensures minimal trauma and a faster recovery than with conventional open surgeries.
The second effective treatment method is chemotherapy . It can even be used as an independent method. But it is more often used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and make the surgeons' work easier. After surgery, chemotherapy helps eliminate the remaining tumor cells and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease in the future.
The third method of treatment is radiotherapy . It is not used as an independent treatment, but is used in combination with surgical and chemotherapeutic methods. The main goal of radiotherapy is to improve the results of surgical treatment.
Every year, about 750,000 people die from stomach cancer worldwide (according to WHO). Recent decades have shown a tendency toward a decrease in the incidence of the disease in general, but very unevenly across countries. Among all existing oncological diseases, stomach cancer is in fifth place in frequency, and in third place in mortality.
At the first stage of cancer, the five-year survival rate reaches 57%, at the second – 46%, at the third – 20%, and at the fourth – 4%. Therefore, it is so important to promptly contact specialists and begin treatment.
The Humanitas clinic practices interdisciplinary diagnostics and treatment, which involves specialists from different fields to accurately diagnose and develop a treatment program individually for each patient. This in turn allows for better prognoses.
Risk factors and symptoms of the disease
The following factors can trigger cancer:
A small amount of fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet. At the same time – an abundance of meat, smoked foods, fried foods, stale products, etc.
Consumption of various nitrates and nitrites, the amount of which has increased in the modern market.
Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking.
Also, among the significant factors, experts highlight:
adenomatous polyps in the stomach;
previous stomach diseases;
Helicobacter pylori infection;
stomach ulcer;
excess weight;
genetic predisposition.
In the early stages, the disease manifests mainly general and non-specific symptoms. There may be discomfort in the stomach, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc. Or, at first, there may be no symptoms at all.
The following symptoms are a reason to immediately consult a doctor:
frequent pain just above the navel, along with loss of appetite and nausea;
difficulty swallowing (indicates that the tumor affects the upper part of the stomach);
a feeling of complete satiety even when eating small portions of food;
constant fatigue and continuous weight loss;
vomiting with blood or contents that resemble coffee grounds.
Even if the symptoms turn out to be caused by another disease and not oncology, it is better to undergo an examination to make sure that there is no cancer. And if there is, to start professional treatment as soon as possible.
Diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer
For the purpose of accurate diagnosis, a large range of methods is used to detect a tumor, its location and size, as well as to establish the presence of metastases, the degree of growth of the primary focus, etc.
Basic diagnostic measures include:
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – examination of the mucosa to determine the specifics of a particular tumor. During the procedure, a sample of tumor tissue is also taken for subsequent histological examination.
Endoscopic ultrasound is a method that allows you to accurately determine how much the tumor has grown into the tissues of the stomach and other organs. Plus, regional lymph nodes are examined for damage. It is at the endoscopic ultrasound stage that specialists can already decide on the operability of the tumor.
Computed tomography is a study that accurately detects regional and distant metastases.
Laparoscopy is a visualization method that allows determining the extent of tumor spread in the peritoneum.
Additionally, the following may be used: blood and urine tests for oncological markers, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, gastroscopy, chest X-ray, etc.
The main method of treatment is surgery , which removes tumor tissue and affected parts of the stomach. In some cases, the stomach and adjacent organs need to be removed. At Humanitas, such operations are performed using a minimally invasive laparoscopic method, which ensures minimal trauma and a faster recovery than with conventional open surgeries.
The second effective treatment method is chemotherapy . It can even be used as an independent method. But it is more often used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and make the surgeons' work easier. After surgery, chemotherapy helps eliminate the remaining tumor cells and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease in the future.
The third method of treatment is radiotherapy . It is not used as an independent treatment, but is used in combination with surgical and chemotherapeutic methods. The main goal of radiotherapy is to improve the results of surgical treatment.