Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer is simply malignancies of the stomach.
Causes, Incidence, And Risk Factors of Stomach Cancer:
There are several different types and classifications of stomach cancer. The most common type is called adenocarcinoma, which refers to the way the cancer looks under the microscope. There are several types of adenocarcinoma. Other types of stomach cancer occur much less frequently so this article is focused on adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is a common stomach cancer of the digestive tract worldwide, although it is relatively uncommon in the US. It occurs most frequently in men over 40 years old. The incidence of this form of stomach cancer is extremely high in Japan, Chile, and Iceland. The incidence of most types of gastric adenocarcinoma in the US has declined over the years. Experts propose that the decrease may be related to reduced intake of salted, cured, and smoked foods and increased vitamin C consumption.
However, the incidence of adenocarcinoma in the proximal parts of the stomach (the gastric cardia and gastroesophageal junction, where the stomach meets the esophagus) has increased markedly, along with an increase in cancers of the lower esophagus. The reason for this increase is unknown.
Diagnosis of stomach cancer is often delayed by the absence of symptoms in early disease or by self-treatment of symptoms, some of which are common to other, less serious gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, gas, and a sense of fullness).
Risk factors for stomach cancer are a family history of gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, blood type A, a personal history of pernicious anemia, a history of chronic atrophic gastritis, a condition of decreased gastric acid, and a prior history of adenomatous gastric polyp.
Treatment Methods For Stomach Cancer
Surgical removal of the stomach (gastrectomy) is the only curative treatment for stomach cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be beneficial. A recent study showed that for many patients, chemotherapy and radiation therapy given after surgery for stomach cancer improved the chance of being cured.
For patients in whom surgery is not an option, chemotherapy or radiation can improve symptoms of stomach cancer. For some patients, a surgical bypass procedure may provide relief of symptoms.
Learn more about stomach cancer at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University. As a national leader in cancer care & research and ranked among the best treatment facilities in the country, it is one of only 38 cancer centers in the nation designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. NCI designation is an assurance of excellent care and comprehensive treatment options, including access to the latest clinical trials.
Stomach Cancer
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