Stomach cancer or gastric cancer is the cancer that develops in the tissues that line the stomach.
Stomach Cancer Causes:
The precise reasons for the occurrence of stomach cancer is still unknown with many doctors baffled by the fact that the disease develops in some individuals and not in others.
Studies have revealed that those individuals having particular risk factors have greater likelihood of developing stomach cancer. A risk factor is something that might raise the probability of contracting the disease.
Research has revealed that risk factors for stomach cancer are:
- Age – Majority of individuals detected with this disease are aged at 72 years and above.
- Sex – Men are known to have greater chances of developing stomach cancer as compared to women
- Race- Stomach cancer is more prevalent among particular races like Asians, Pacific Islanders, Hispanics and Afro-Americans as compared to the Non-Hispanic white American populace.
Dietetic intake – Research indicate that individuals that ate a diet rich in foods prepared by smoking, salting or pickling might be at elevated risk of developing stomach cancer. Conversely, diet rich in fresh fruits and veggies were noted to provide safeguard from this disease.- Helicobacter pylori infection (H.pylori) – A bacterial form habitually residing in the stomach that is known to raise the chances of inflammation and ulcers in the stomach. Also known to increase the likelihood of stomach cancer, though merely a small segment of populace infected with this bacterial form develop stomach cancer.
- Though the infection raises the risk, cancer is non-infectious in nature and cannot be contracted from another person that has the disease.
- Smoking – Those that smoke have a greater likelihood of developing stomach cancer as compared to those that didn’t smoke.
- Presence of certain health conditions- Certain conditions that lead to inflammation or other forms of problems that affect the stomach, might increase the chances of stomach cancer.
- A past history of stomach surgery.
- Long-standing inflammation in the lining of the stomach known as chronic gastritis.
- Presence of Pernicious anemia – a kind of blood ailment known to affect the stomach.
- Family history of an atypical kind of stomach cancer that is known to run in few families. Several individuals with identified risk factors fail to develop stomach cancer whereas those that had no recognised risk factors were noted to develop the disease. For instance, several individuals with the presence of H. pylori in their stomach were observed to never contract the disease. If one perceives the presence of a risk element, then it is important to get in touch with the doctor who would be best able to recommend ways of lowering one’s risk and could chart out a schedule for examinations to be conducted.
Stomach Cancer Symptoms:
Preliminary stages of stomach cancer mostly are asymptomatic, however as the disease progresses, the most prevalent symptoms include:
- A sense of discomfort in the stomach region.
- Experiencing fullness or distended even subsequent to a small-sized portion meal.
- Feeling nauseous and vomiting.
- Loss in weight.
Quite regularly, the symptoms are the outcome of some other health condition like ulcer or infection that could be eliciting similar symptoms. Those experiencing these symptoms must promptly inform the doctor so that early detection and treatment could be conducted.
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February 18, 2010 at 10:54 PM
Stomach cancer or gastric cancer develops in the tissues that line the stomach. The reason for stomach cancer is still unknown by many doctors, so if one observes the symptoms of it, should immediately consult doctor. Some of its symptoms are discomfort in stomach, feeling fullness even after eating small portion meal, weight loss, feeling like vomiting etc.