When a tumor in the stomach occurs uncontrolled spread of cancer cells. According to official statistics, more than seven hundred thousand people die from such a neoplasm every year in the world. Gastric cancer is very dangerous with the formation of metastases. About half of people with this type of cancer metastasize, when cancer cells spread from the stomach to other organs.
Causes of pathology
Here is a list of factors that influence the appearance of such a cancerous tumor of the stomach:
- Presence of diseases of the esophagus in the form of esophagitis, gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer of the stomach.
- Regular smoking. The fact is that the tar contained in a cigarette negatively affects he alth in general and increases the risk of developing stomach cancer several times.
- Another cause is bacteriaHelicobacter, which parasitizes the gastric mucosa and affects the appearance of ulcers in this organ. Chronic ulcers increase the risk of stomach cancer.
- Influence of the hereditary factor. In the event that a close relative had stomach cancer, the risk increases several times.
- The impact of food. Those who constantly eat s alty and smoked foods have a high risk of developing a tumor in the stomach.
- The risk of developing stomach cancer increases significantly with age, mostly after age 50.
- Cancer pathologies also affect, that is, patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer are also at risk.
Symptoms of this disease
The symptoms of a stomach tumor are very similar to those of other, less serious pathologies. It is for this reason that many patients do not undergo examination and only when the disease has already passed to the next stage, they go to the hospital. Early symptoms of a tumor in the stomach are:
- Feeling that a person has already eaten while eating.
- Occurrence of dysphagia (swallowing disorder).
- Presence of heartburn and feeling bloated after eating.
- Having frequent burping and abdominal or chest pain.
- The occurrence of vomiting. An important symptom is the presence of blood in the vomit.
Watch out for the following signs and symptoms of a stomach tumor:
- In the presence of dysphagia, when there is difficulty in swallowing food.
- With dyspepsia incombined with unexplained weight loss, anemia (against this background, patients often feel tired).
People who develop stomach upset should definitely see a doctor if:
- A close relative had stomach cancer.
- In Barrett's syndrome, when an anomaly of the esophagus is noted, against the background of which a columnar epithelium is observed in the mucous membrane.
- With dysplasia, that is, in the presence of an abnormal number of layers of cell accumulation.
- In the presence of gastritis, when there is inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
- On the background of pernicious anemia. Against the background of this disease, a hematopoietic disease is noted due to a deficiency of vitamin B12.
- With anemia, when there is low hemoglobin in the blood.
- When there is black stool or blood in it. The presence of blood in the stool is one of the most obvious symptoms of digestive failure, including the appearance of a tumor in the stomach. Signs of a stomach tumor should not go unnoticed.
Stages of development of this dangerous pathology
The following stages of tumor development in the stomach are distinguished:
- At the initial development, the neoplasm is limited only to the gastric mucosa.
- At the first stage, the tumor from the mucosa enters the deeper layer of the walls of the stomach.
- At the second stage, the tumor grows into all the walls of the stomach.
- At the next stage, the tumor of the stomach absorbs all the walls of the digestive organ, among other things, the lymph nodes suffer.
- At the fourth stage, metastases occur,spreading to other organs.
Diagnosis of a tumor of the stomach
In the event that a person has several of the signs or symptoms listed above, you should seek help from a doctor. If a tumor in the stomach is suspected, the patient will be sent to a specialist for a diagnostic examination. Diagnostic activities will include:
- Gastroscopy. Through endoscopic examination using a gastroscope, doctors visually examine the walls of the esophagus and stomach.
- At the discretion of the doctor, a piece of tissue may be taken from a person for examination for diagnostic purposes. This procedure is also called a biopsy.
- Carrying out an ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity. This procedure is prescribed for examining the abdominal region using ultrasound waves. During the examination, the image on the monitor will be visible, such an examination is absolutely painless. Ultrasound also shows the processes of metastasis along with enlargement of the lymph glands.
- Performing laparoscopy. This procedure is carried out in order to determine the prevalence of cancer, during laparoscopy, the patient is under anesthesia, the laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the lower abdomen.
- Eating barium. This procedure is carried out in order to diagnose a tumor of the stomach with the help of barium, while the study is carried out on an empty stomach. Patients swallow barium sulfate, after which the doctor evaluates the structure of the duodenum, at this stage an ulcer can be found if this is notwas done through laparoscopy. The x-ray will show the projection of the stomach along with the functionality of the digestive system.
Methods of therapy for gastric cancer
Treatment of gastric tumors largely depends on several factors, including the severity of the disease along with the overall he alth of the patient. Treatment includes surgery along with chemotherapy. In addition, radiation and drug treatment is carried out. Only an operation that removes most of the stomach can bring hope for an absolute cure.
In advanced cases, doctors prescribe a combined treatment in the form of radiation and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy slows down the process of cancer cell division, but does not remove the tumor itself. Many patients who have undergone this treatment suffer side effects in the form of metastasis to other organs, most commonly the lungs and liver.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments for stomach tumors. It involves the impact on the tumor with the help of special drugs in order to destroy and stop the growth of cancer cells.
The method of delivering chemicals to the human body is different, and the choice remains with the doctor. This can be an intravenous method, using pills, as well as intramuscular injections. After chemotherapy, the patient may experience discomfort in the form of diarrhea, vomiting, stomatitis (a fairly common adverse reaction),decreased libido, hair loss and so on.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for this pathology
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is given before gastric cancer surgery to shrink the tumor. Adjuvant chemotherapy is given after surgery to kill any remaining pathogenic cells. Chemotherapy may be the preferred treatment for some types of stomach cancer. It is especially suitable for gastrointestinal tumors and stomach lymphoma.
How is the operation to remove a tumor of the stomach?
Surgical treatment of neoplasms
Surgery uses the following techniques:
- Performing endoscopy, which involves the removal of small tumors.
- Performing a subtotal gastrectomy, in which part of the stomach is surgically removed.
- Total gastrectomy, against which the entire stomach is removed through surgery.
Stomach tumor surgery is a very serious procedure and patients need time to recover from it.
Radiation therapy
Energy beams are used to kill cancer cells. Radiation treatment is not usually used to treat stomach cancer due to the risks of damage to the internal organs that are nearby. But if the cancer is causing bleeding or severe pain, then radiotherapy is considered a treatment option.
Let's find outwhat should be the prevention to avoid the appearance of a tumor in the stomach.
Prevention of this pathology
Medics still have not figured out the exact cause of what actually causes stomach swelling. Thus, to date, there is no effective method of preventing cancer. However, each person can reduce the risks of development if they follow certain recommendations:
- You need to have a strong immune system. People with a high immune system are less likely to develop stomach cancer.
- Eat as little smoked and s alty food as possible.
- Need to quit smoking. It is worth recalling that absolutely all organs are affected by smoking in a person. But the first organs to receive a dose of poison are the bronchi along with the lungs, the nervous system and the stomach. In the event that nicotine addiction is much stronger than a person, then you should try to contact a specialized medical institution for help. If a person has already tried a lot, but he can’t quit smoking, then at least you should try not to smoke on an empty stomach.
Post-operative care and follow-up for gastric neoplasms
When a person completes treatment, the doctor will continue to monitor him and the patient's well-being. Thus, it is very important to attend all appointments with your doctor. During these visits, the doctor is interested in the patient's well-being, and, in addition, the problems that have arisen. A doctor may prescribe a laboratory test or tomography in order to exclude a recurrence of the disease or side effects. Almost every cancer therapy causes side effects. Some last up to several weeks or months, while others can last a lifetime.
Dispensary observation in case of illness
Doctors strongly recommend dispensary observation with examination every three to six months during the first years after treatment of a stomach tumor. Patients who have had surgery to remove the stomach or part of it require vitamins, including B12. This essential vitamin can only be ingested through injection, as when it is given in tablet form, it is not absorbed into the bloodstream if part of the stomach has been removed.
It is not uncommon for the disease to return as a local recurrence, which would mean that the tumor reappears in the area where it was originally. Depending on the degree of the disease and the general condition of the patient, the doctor selects a suitable method of treatment. Often doctors resort to using chemotherapy to stop the disease.
Diet for this pathology
An integral part of the treatment of the described disease is proper nutrition. It guarantees not only sufficient energy, but also the necessary amount of protein, and at the same time minerals and the required vitamins. After cancer treatment, the patient may lose his appetite, in such patients, the perception of the taste of products often changes. Sometimes you need to change your eating habits oreven completely change the diet. Depending on the patient's current state of he alth, nutritionists can help, and, in addition, doctors who prescribe proper nutrition, make up a diet, remove or add any specific foods to food. Here are some general recommendations from nutritionists for cancer patients:
- Eat smaller meals as often as possible.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Eat plenty of fish and white meat.
- Only natural foods should be consumed, such as milk along with cheese and eggs.
Patients with stomach cancer may experience abdominal pain along with diarrhea and tachycardia after surgery. The occurrence of frequent headaches is not excluded. To alleviate such symptoms, a diet that involves restricting carbohydrates and increasing protein is suitable.
