Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypes of Gastric CancerGastric Cancer SymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types of Gastric Cancer
Gastric Cancer Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Gastric cancer (stomach cancer) is when abnormal cells grow in the stomach. It can occur anywhere in the stomach. The incidence of this type of cancer is decreasing in the United States as some of the risk factors for the disease are declining.However, stomach cancer is a leading cause of death in other parts of the world.
Stomach cancer is connected to various diseases and conditions as well as certain environmental triggers and lifestyle factors. Treatment may involve surgery to remove tumors and/or either part or all of the stomach as well as drug therapy or radiation to kill cancer cells.
Theresa Chiechi / Verywell
There are several different types of stomach cancer. The most common type is adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma
More than 90% of stomach cancers are adenocarcinoma. The inner lining of the stomach is called the mucosa. Adenocarcinoma of the stomach starts in the cells in the mucosa. This type of cancer has subtypes which includes distal (noncardia), proximal, and diffuse stomach cancer. Distal cancer may be related to a chronic infection withH pylori. Proximal stomach cancer is more common in the United States and is found at the top of the stomach and sometimes where the stomach meets the esophagus. Diffuse stomach cancer is more aggressive and decentralized so therefore more challenging to diagnose and treat. It’s often diagnosed in younger people with a family history of stomach cancers.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
This type of stomach cancer begins in the connective tissue or the muscles of the stomach. GIST is a rare type of stomach cancer. It can be either noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Gastric lymphoma
This type of stomach cancer is less common. Lymphomas are cancers of the immune system. The walls of the stomach may contains cells that are part of the immune system. Lymphoma stomach cancer begins in these cells.
Carcinoid tumor
There are cells in the stomach which produce certain hormones. Acarcinoid tumorbegins in these cells. Most of the time, this type of cancer does not spread outside the stomach.
Thesymptoms of stomach cancercan be similar to many other conditions. What’s important to note is not only that these signs and symptoms are happening but also that they are occurring frequently.
Having symptoms on occasion, such as after eating a heavy meal, doesn’t mean that stomach cancer is present. Talking to a doctor about any problems with the stomach will help in finding out if there is a reason to get checked out with any tests.
The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include:
When gastric cancer becomes more advanced, it can lead to other signs and symptoms that are more concerning. These symptoms might occur because the tumors are growing:
It’s not clear what causes stomach cancer. It is known that some people may have risk factors for developing this type of cancer.
There are a few conditions that make a person more likely to develop stomach cancer. There are also lifestyle and environmental risk factors that may increase a person’s chances of having gastric cancer. However, not everyone who develops stomach cancer will have these risk factors.
Some of the conditions that are associated with stomach cancer include:
The lifestyle and environmental factors associated with stomach cancer include:
Several different types of tests may be used to diagnose stomach cancer.When stomach cancer is diagnosed, it may also be necessary to do some tests or procedures to determine how far advanced the cancer is (called staging).
Some of the tests that might be used to diagnose gastric cancer and/or determine what stage it is include:
The treatment for stomach cancer will depend on a variety of factors. A person’s overall health and any other conditions are considered when determining the best treatment. The stage of the cancer, its location, and if it is considered to be fast-growing will all affect treatment decisions.
Surgery
One of the main treatments for stomach cancer is surgery. The type of surgery that’s needed will be different based on how far the cancer extends into the stomach or beyond it. Surgery will be done to remove the cancer and any other surrounding tissues as needed.
Tumor Removal
This surgery might be used if the cancer is in the early stages. Tumors that are confined to the lining of the stomach might be removed during an endoscopy procedure. An instrument is passed through the mouth and down into the stomach. Special tools are used to remove the tumors.
The different types of techniques used are endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal resection, and endoscopic submucosal dissection (which is only done in certain places). The type of procedure will be dependent upon the location of the cancer, the facility where the procedure is done, and the opinion of the physicians.
Subtotal Gastrectomy
During this surgery,part of the stomach is removed. This procedure is most often done when the cancer is located in the part of the stomach that is closest to the small intestine (the distal part). The part of the stomach that contains the cancer plus some of the surrounding tissue and any lymph nodes that are involved will be removed.
Total Gastrectomy.
This surgery involves removing all of the stomach as well as any surrounding tissue and lymph nodes, as needed. Without a stomach, the esophagus will need to be connected to the small intestine. This surgery might be done more often for cancer that involves more of the stomach or that is at the top of the stomach closer to the esophagus.
Other Treatments
Besides surgery, other treatments include:
Receiving a diagnosis of cancer can bring on strong emotions. It can also affect relationships with friends, family members, and co-workers. Having some tools to cope with the ups and downs of cancer treatment may help.
Learning as much as possible about the available treatments and what affects they may have is a helpful coping technique for some people. Understanding why doctors are making certain recommendations and what their effectiveness is can take some of the uncertainty out of the treatment journey. Bringing questions to appointments and making use of a patient portal or other tools can be helpful in getting answers.
Family and friends often want to help, either to lend an ear or to take over some of the tasks of everyday living. It may help to let others take over some routine chores such as shopping for food, cleaning the house or doing laundry, or running errands such as picking up prescriptions.
There are professionals available who are experienced in helping people who live with cancer in sorting through their problems and feelings. This can be a therapist, a social worker, or a clergyperson.
If more help is needed, a professional can also help in making recommendations on where to receive it, such as if family support is needed. Cancer support groups may also be helpful for some people who find comfort in talking to others coping with a similar diagnosis.
A Word From Verywell
Because stomach cancer is not common, there is no routine screening done for it. Symptoms of stomach cancer that go on for a few weeks are a reason to talk to a doctor to find out if there’s a need to do further testing.
People who are at increased risk for stomach cancer might receive regular testing, however, in order to catch the disease early if it does start to develop. Not smoking, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and receiving regular treatment for related conditions are helpful in reducing the risk from cancer.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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