Gastric cancer is cancer that occurs due to abnormal and uncontrolled growth of stomach cells . This abnormal cell growth occurs because cells in the stomach undergo genetic changes.
In its early stages, gastric cancer rarely causes specific symptoms. Symptoms can include flatulence or heartburn, and are often only mistaken for stomach ulcers or resemble symptoms of stomach disease in general.
These conditions make gastric cancer difficult to detect early and are generally only diagnosed after entering the final stage. This of course will affect the chances of recovery.
Causes of Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer occurs due to genetic changes (mutations) in cells in the stomach. These mutations cause these cells to grow abnormally and uncontrollably so that they become cancer cells .
The cause of the genetic changes in gastric cells is not known with certainty. However, there are several factors that are known to increase a person's risk of developing stomach cancer, namely:
- Smoke
- Age 55 and over
- Male gender
- Have a family member with a history of stomach cancer
- Had surgery on the stomach
Stomach cancer is also more at risk for people who have experienced the following diseases:
- pylori bacterial infection
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection
- Chronic gastritis
- Polyps in the stomach
- Anemia due to deficiency of vitamin B12
- Weak immune system, for example due to suffering from HIV/AIDS or using immunosuppressive drugs in the long term
- Other types of cancer, such as lymphoma , esophageal cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and cervical cancer
Apart from these factors, lifestyle and diet can also increase a person's risk of stomach cancer, including:
- Frequently eat meat, especially processed meat
- Often eat processed foods and high in salt
- Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages
- Not storing and cooking food properly
- Rarely exercise
- Rarely eat vegetables and fruit
- Overweight or obesity
Stomach Cancer Symptoms
Gastric cancer in its early stages often causes no symptoms. If it appears, the symptoms are generally considered to be ordinary heartburn complaints . The following are some of the symptoms that stomach cancer sufferers can experience at an early stage:
- Flatulence and frequent burping
- Heartburn
- Rising stomach acid ( heartburn )
- Get full quickly when eating
- Nauseous
- Vomit
Advanced stomach cancer will cause more severe symptoms. It is at this stage that new sufferers generally come to see a doctor. Some of the symptoms of stomach cancer at an advanced stage are:
- Vomiting blood
- Black stools or bloody bowel movements
- Lack of blood or anemia
- Jaundice
- Decreased appetite
- Weight loss
- The body feels weak
- Swelling in the abdomen due to fluid buildup
When to see a doctor
If you often experience stomach ulcers or recurrent digestive disorders, you should consult a doctor . The doctor will perform gastric binoculars ( gastroscopy ), to see conditions in the stomach.
Vomiting blood or bloody bowel movements can make stomach cancer sufferers go into shock which can be fatal. Immediately go to the nearest hospital emergency room if you experience these complaints to get treatment.
Stomach Cancer Diagnosis
If the patient has vomiting blood, the doctor will first treat it to stabilize the patient's condition. After the patient's condition is stable, the doctor will ask about the symptoms being felt, as well as the patient's family history of medical and illness, especially cancer.
Next, the doctor will do a physical examination of the patient's stomach to see if there is swelling and pain when the stomach is pressed. The doctor can also do a digital rectal examination to detect bloody bowel movements.
To determine whether a person has stomach cancer, the doctor will carry out further examinations in the form of:
-
Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy or gastric binoculars is performed by inserting a camera tube into the stomach through the mouth. This tool can help doctors to see the condition of the stomach, as well as take samples of stomach tissue for examination in the laboratory. -
X
-rays X- rays can help doctors see abnormalities in the lining of the stomach. So that the results are clearer, the patient will be asked to drink a special solution as a dye before the examination is carried out. -
Blood
tests Blood tests in the laboratory are carried out to find out if there is H . pylori , as well as to check the function of other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. -
Stool test The
doctor will take a sample of the patient's stool to check for blood in the stool. -
Ultrasound of the stomach
This examination using ultrasound waves aims to see if stomach cancer has invaded other organs in the digestive system, especially the liver. -
CT scan CT scan
examination is done to determine the development and spread of cancer. -
Laparoscopic surgery
This examination procedure is performed with a tool similar to a gastroscopy, but inserted through a small incision in the abdominal wall. Laparoscopic surgery aims to determine the spread of gastric cancer tissue.
Stomach Cancer Stage
Based on the severity and spread, gastric cancer is divided into 4 stages , namely:
-
Stage 1
At this stage, the cancer is in the inner lining of the stomach cavity and has spread to the surrounding lymph nodes. -
Stage 2
At this stage, the cancer has invaded the muscle lining of the stomach and spread more and more to the lymph nodes. -
Stage 3
At this stage, the entire lining of the stomach has been eaten away by cancer or many small cancerous growths that have spread widely to the lymph nodes. -
Stage 4
The spread of stomach cancer at this stage is getting worse and reaching other organs.
Stomach cancer staging is determined through the examinations described earlier. This staging will help the doctor to provide the appropriate treatment method.
Stomach Cancer Treatment
Stomach cancer treatment methods depend on the stage of the cancer and the patient's general health condition. Meanwhile, the chances of recovering from stomach cancer depend on the stage of the cancer when it was initially diagnosed, as well as the health condition and age of the patient.
Treatment methods that can be undertaken include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. These four methods are often combined so that cancer cells in the stomach can be eradicated to the fullest.
The following is an explanation of stomach cancer treatment methods:
1. Operation
Gastric surgery aims to remove cancerous tissue from the stomach. The type of surgery performed depends on the stage of the cancer. If the cancer is still at an early stage and is just developing in the inner lining of the stomach, surgery can be done with the help of a gastroscopy.
Another surgical method that doctors can choose to treat stomach cancer is gastrectomy . In this procedure, the doctor will remove part or all of the stomach affected by cancer.
Gastrectomy is performed if the cancer has spread to other parts of the stomach to the tissues around the stomach. In a gastrectomy, some of the tissue around the stomach along with the lymph nodes can be removed.
Surgery, especially gastrectomy, carries the risk of complications in the form of bleeding, infection and digestive disorders.
2. Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy aims to kill cancer cells using radiation beams. The radiation beam can come from a device placed on the skin near the patient's stomach (internal radiation), or using a special radiation device (external radiation).
Radiotherapy can be done before or after surgery. Radiotherapy before surgery aims to reduce the size of the cancer. While radiotherapy after surgery aims to kill the remaining cancer cells after surgery.
Radiotherapy must be carried out regularly. Although this procedure is painless, patients may experience side effects such as diarrhea , fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion after undergoing this procedure.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the administration of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be in the form of tablets, infusions, or a combination of both. Doctors usually give a combination of two or three of the following types of drugs:
- Epirubicin
- Capecitabine
- Cisplatin
- Fluorouracil
- Irinotecan
- Oxaliplatin
Chemotherapy can be combined with radiotherapy or surgery. For advanced, inoperable stomach cancer, chemotherapy can help slow the progression of the cancer and relieve the patient's symptoms.
Chemotherapy can be done for several weeks to several months. This procedure will cause several side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia , hair loss, and weight loss. Usually, these side effects will disappear after chemotherapy treatment ends.
4. Target therapy
Targeted therapy has two functions, namely attacking cells that have genetic mutations to become cancer cells, or stimulating the immune system to eradicate these cells.
Targeted therapy can be combined with chemotherapy. Some types of drugs used in targeted drug therapy are:
- Imatinib
- Regorafenib
- Sunitinib
- Trastuzumab
- Ramucirumab
In late-stage stomach cancer, treatment is usually only focused on reducing symptoms, so that the patient feels more comfortable.
Stomach Cancer Prevention
To avoid gastric cancer, you can take the following steps:
- Quit smoking
- Adopting a healthy diet, for example consuming foods rich in fiber , and reducing salty foods and processed foods
- Maintain ideal body weight
- Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes per day
Because the symptoms of stomach cancer are almost the same as some other stomach disorders, most sufferers are not aware of it until stomach cancer is in its final stages.
Therefore, if you experience symptoms of stomach ulcers that do not go away, immediately consult a doctor for early detection . Treatment of stomach cancer as early as possible can increase the chances of recovery.