Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is cancer arising from part of the stomach, but mostly the innermost lining, called the mucosa, according to the National Cancer Institute. There were over 20,000 new cases of stomach cancer in 2009 in the United States, with more than 10,000 deaths, according to data from the American Cancer Society. MayoClinic.com points out that the number of cases of stomach cancer in the U.S. is on the decline, which may be attributed to dietary changes and increased use of antibiotics in childhood.
Risk Factors
Certain factors increase the chances of developing stomach cancer, including being over 60 years old, male and a tobacco user. Other risk factors include a family history of the cancer, growths in the stomach called polyps and having a stomach inflammation called gastritis. According to Medline Plus, eating a lot of salted, smoked and pickled foods, eating too little fruits and vegetables and having a stomach infection with Helicobacter pylori are also risk factors for stomach cancer.
Types
Nearly all stomach cancers arise from the glandular part of the mucosa of the stomach, according to MayoClinic.com. These cancers are called adenocarcinomas. Other much less common types of stomach cancer are lymphomas from components of the immune system, carcinoid tumors from the hormone producing cells and gastrointestinal stromal tumors from the nervous system components of the stomach.
Stages
The cancer progresses through several stages as it grows and invades surrounding tissue. It is a slow growing cancer. According to MayoClinic.com, stage one is cancer confined to the cells lining the inside of the stomach. In stage two, the cancer has spread deeper, to the muscular walls of the stomach. There may be some spread to nearby lymph nodes. A stage-three stomach cancer has spread through the entire thickness of the stomach or extensively involved nearby lymph nodes. By stage four, the cancer has spread beyond the stomach to surrounding tissues. It might still be a smaller mass in the stomach with seeds in distant organs called metastases.
Symptoms
According to the National Cancer Institute, early symptoms of stomach cancer are indigestion, stomach discomfort, a bloated feeling following meals, heartburn, nausea and loss of appetite. Symptoms of more advanced disease are blood in the stool, vomiting, unexplained weight loss and stomach pain. Others are yellowish discoloration of the skin and eyes, trouble with swallowing and the collection of fluid in the abdomen.
Diagnosis and Staging
Tests carried out to determine a diagnosis of stomach cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, include fecal occult blood tests and special X-ray tests, including barium swallow and CT scans. Other tests that aid diagnosis and staging of stomach cancer are chest X-rays, upper endoscopy, ultrasound, biopsy, MRI, PET scans and laparoscopy.
Treatment Options
The approach to treatment depends on the stage and type of cancer and the state of the patient. Treatment options available for patients with stomach cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These may be used in diverse combinations.
