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Harbingers (first signs) of stomach cancer. Stomach cancer: symptoms and manifestation of the first signs. Stomach cancer treatment methods, prognosis Stomach cancer first symptoms

A malignant formation that originates from the epithelium of the mucosa is called gastric cancer. The disease is a common oncology, which eventually passes to the esophagus, liver and lungs. Every year, 800 thousand men and women die from cancer of the digestive organs in the world, so it is important to be able to recognize the first symptoms of the disease.

Common symptoms of stomach cancer in the early stages

Timely diagnosis allows you to cure cancer completely. However, early diagnosis in men and women is difficult due to the poor clinical picture. The disease is asymptomatic and masquerades as gastric inflammatory processes. As a rule, oncology of the digestive organs is established in the later stages of the disease. Early signs of stomach cancer:

increased acidity, belching;
feeling of fullness in the stomach;
shortness of breath, feeling tired, bleeding;
increased blood clotting.

The main cause of oncology is malnutrition, the constant use of too hot dishes, alcoholic beverages. The environment plays a big role in the development of the disease. AT industrial cities morbidity is higher. Increases the risk of developing a tumor hypovitaminosis, smoking, ulcers or gastritis. Barrett's syndrome and achalasia of the cardia are called precancerous diseases. If the tumor affects the lower esophagus, then there is a high risk of complications of the transition of the cancerous process to the stomach.

Specific symptoms of stomach cancer

An oncological disease is diagnosed - the first symptoms of which are mild, mainly in men, women are less likely to suffer from such oncology. Depending on how intensively the tumor spreads, the stage of the disease is determined. When tumor cells are limited to damage only internal organ, stage zero is diagnosed. Specific symptoms are manifestations similar to other diseases of the stomach: vomiting, nausea, black loose stools.

The first signs of first-degree stomach cancer are increased manifestations of heartburn, difficulty in passing food, and rapid satiety. In the first stage, a person feels pain while eating when swallowing, so he constantly drinks solid food with water. The following manifestations indicate advanced oncology:

change in the size of the abdomen;
inability to swallow liquid food and drink water due to pain;
palpable pain in the abdomen;
pallor of mucous membranes and skin;
chronic weakness, fatigue;
enlarged lymph nodes above the clavicle and in the axillary region on the left side.

Secondary symptoms of cancer of the stomach and esophagus

With gastric oncology, the patient begins to feel constantly tired, the level of working capacity decreases. If the early symptoms of stomach cancer are mild, then the late stage is associated with a lack of appetite or even an aversion to food. Even from a small amount of food, the patient experiences gastric discomfort and heaviness, it is difficult for him to swallow. Because of this, a person sharply loses weight, becomes depressed, loses interest in the environment.

If the tumor affects the vessels, then bleeding may occur at any time, in which the patient sometimes loses consciousness. At a later stage, regular and severe vomiting appears with dark blood clots, black feces. When the tumor breaks through, peritonitis develops with high temperature and severe pain. This situation requires immediate medical attention. Oncology often affects people of middle (35-45) age and the elderly. In children, the disease appears extremely rarely: one child in a million.

Diagnosis of cancer in the early stages

Diagnostics includes the passage of a set of procedures that will show the extent of the process and the stage of oncology. In the early stages of the pathology, the symptoms are mild, so the doctor should take an anamnesis. During the visual examination of the patient, the doctor pays attention to the following signs.

The stomach is one of the most common and at the same time insidious cancers. In terms of the frequency of deaths, it is located in second place, second only to lung cancer. The reason for the high mortality in this disease lies in the difficulty of timely diagnosis. It is very difficult to determine gastric cancer in its early stages, since the symptoms are often very blurred and patients most often do not pay attention to them. And in the later stages, this disease is already difficult to treat.

When contacting a doctor and diagnosing stomach cancer in its early stages, the possibility of completely getting rid of the disease is very high, and the five-year survival rate approaches 80-90%. But, in most cases, the diagnosis of "stomach cancer" occurs already at later stages, which greatly reduces the five-year survival rate. Therefore, you should know the first, most common symptoms of stomach cancer and, at the slightest suspicion, undergo a more detailed examination.

Symptoms of stomach cancer are not always the same in different patients. Depending on the location of the tumor and its histological type, symptoms can vary significantly. The location of the tumor in the cardial part of the stomach (the part adjacent to the esophagus) is primarily indicated by difficulties in swallowing coarse food or large pieces of it, and increased salivation. As the tumor grows, the symptoms become more pronounced. After some time, other signs of the tumor develop: vomiting, a feeling of heaviness in the chest, between the shoulder blades or in the region of the heart, pain.

If the primary tumor is located in the lower part of the stomach (the so-called antrum), then the symptoms will be slightly different. In such cases, the patient complains of vomiting, a feeling of heaviness, an unpleasant odor from the oral cavity or from vomit. General oncological manifestations testify to the defeat of the tumor of the body of the stomach: lack of appetite, weakness, dizziness, anemia, weight loss, etc. There are no pronounced symptoms in the case of a tumor of the middle part of the stomach.

Depending on the presence and nature of symptoms, the doctor can determine the need and types of further diagnostics. But still, there are significantly more symptoms of stomach cancer than described above.

Symptoms of stomach cancer in its early stages

The earliest signs of stomach cancer are so blurred and inexpressive that treatment, if they occur, is started in extremely rare cases and, as a rule, is not appropriate for the disease. After all, most diseases of the gastrointestinal tract have similar manifestations, and it is extremely difficult to diagnose cancer based on them. But, nevertheless, the most likely symptoms of stomach cancer can be identified. These include:

Disorder of the digestive process. This is heartburn, frequent belching, bloating, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. These symptoms were noted by many patients, even for many years of their lives. But they got to the oncologist only in the presence of other more serious symptoms.
discomfort, localized in the region of the chest. Such manifestations include pain, a feeling of fullness, heaviness, or any other manifestation of discomfort.
. Nausea can haunt the patient immediately after each meal and cause discomfort for a long time.
Difficulty in swallowing. This sign occurs only when a tumor forms in the upper part of the stomach. It can partially obstruct the passage of food, which explains this sign. In the early stages, difficulties arise only with rough food or large lumps. But with the development of the disease, it becomes more difficult to swallow even soft and liquid foods.
Vomit. Often, only the appearance of symptoms such as vomiting and nausea leads the patient to an examination. Vomiting can be a one-time or intermittent occurrence, occur immediately after a meal, or not be associated with a meal at all. The most terrible manifestation is vomiting with scarlet or brown blood. In addition to small, but stably recurring bleeding, anemia, pallor, shortness of breath, fatigue join.
The presence of blood in the stool. This is another symptom of stomach bleeding and stomach swelling. It can be diagnosed in the laboratory or visually by the color of the feces, which in this case is tar black.
Painful sensations. Often, pain is felt in the chest area, but pain can also spread towards the shoulder blade or towards the heart.
General clinical symptoms. After the development of the tumor and the occurrence of metastases outside the stomach, symptoms common to all oncological diseases may also appear: weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, anemia, lethargy, etc.
secondary symptoms. New symptoms indicate the appearance of secondary tumors. Symptoms can be very diverse and depend on the direction of the occurrence of metastases.

The list of the above symptoms is far from complete, but it is these symptoms that should alert the patient and force him to undergo an examination to start timely treatment.

Dyspepsia as a characteristic symptom of stomach cancer

Diagnosis of cancer is a rather complicated process.

Quite often, a patient comes to the doctor with a very common symptom - dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is called a violation of the normal functioning of the stomach, indigestion. In this case, the task of the doctor is to conduct a complete examination in order to identify the root cause of such a disorder. Dyspepsia is characterized by the following symptoms:

feeling of fullness in the stomach;
decreased or loss of appetite;
reduced portion size;
aversion to previously loved food, often protein (meat,);
nausea, vomiting;
lack of pleasure in eating.

If one of the above symptoms appears, you should not panic, but a combination of several should alert the patient and force him to contact the appropriate specialist for a thorough examination.

Diagnosis of stomach cancer in the laboratory

Most patients (60-85%) have symptoms of anemia caused by chronic blood loss and the poisoning effect of tumor cell metabolites on the red bone marrow. When conducting a study on occult blood in feces, a positive result is available in 50-90% of cases. They also examine the contents of the stomach for acidity and an increase in beta-glucuronidase activity.

Differential diagnosis of stomach cancer

First of all, gastric cancer should be distinguished from benign tumors of the stomach and peptic ulcer. Only targeted gastrobiopsy can finally confirm the diagnosis of "gastric cancer" in all cases.

Stomach cancer due to peptic ulcer

You can suspect a tumor of the stomach in the presence of the following signs:

unevenness of the edges of the ulcer, undermining of one edge and elevation of the other;
unconventional form of ulcer ( amoeba-like);
thickening of the mucous membrane around the circumference of the ulcer, granularity of the mucous membrane;
bright red color of the edges of the ulcer;
bleeding, pale, flaccid mucous membrane around the ulcer;
the bottom of the ulcer is gray, granular, shallow, relatively flat;
ulceration of the edges of the ulcer.

In the presence of such symptoms, the patient should undergo targeted gastrobiopsy, tissue samples must be taken both from the bottom of the ulcer and from its edges.

Stomach cancer and polyps

Polyposis cancer of the stomach is a tumor that is of considerable size (up to 2 cm), looks like a node on a leg with a wide base. The surface of the polyp is similar in appearance to a cauliflower; ulcers, erosions, edema, and necrosis can be observed at the top of the formation. If the polyp has a small size, intact mucous membrane, a small leg with a narrow base, then this indicates a benign tumor.

Most of these polyps hyperplastic. But do not forget about the frequent cases (about 40%) of malignancy (the acquisition of malignant tumor properties by cells) of adenomatous polyps. , having a wide base and a significant size, are always subject to removal with further study of their structure

Other types of stomach tumors

Other types of benign tumors are extremely rare. The signs of a benign tumor are always obvious - this is an undisturbed mucosa, preservation of folding and peristalsis of the stomach, the mucosa has a standard, unchanged color (only the mucosa has a yellow color).

Macromorphology stomach tumors

Exophytic tumors (having the appearance of a plaque, a node protruding above the surface of the tissue), as a rule, grow into the lumen of the organ and are separated from healthy tissues. They are characterized by less malignancy and slower spread and metastasis.

A polypoid tumor occurs in 3-10% of cases and outwardly resembles a mushroom hat with a wide base of a cylindrical shape, or a polyp with a high dark red leg, on the surface of which erosions and fibrin deposits are visible. It is located mainly in the antrum or body of the stomach, more often on the lesser curvature. Mucosal changes are absent. A polypoid tumor may be different size: both a few millimeters and a few centimeters and grow into the lumen of the stomach, occupying it completely.

Saucer-shaped (cup-shaped) cancer occurs in 10-40% of cases of gastric tumors and is a tumor with a wide base, in the center of which there is a decay that looks like an ulcer with wide, raised edges, similar to rollers. The bottom of the ulcer has an uneven surface, covered with a coating of dark brown or dirty gray. In the deepening of the ulcer, blood clots or thrombosed vessels can be seen. Visually, the tumor is sharply separated from healthy tissues. The location of the tumor on the lesser curvature is often characterized by its infiltrative growth.

Plaque cancer is a very rare form of stomach cancer. Occurs in 1% of cases. It is a thickening of the gastric mucosa of a whitish or grayish color, 1-2 cm in diameter, sometimes with ulcerations.

An endophytic tumor is characterized by spread along the wall of the stomach in all directions, mainly along its submucosal layer. It is a deep ulcer of various sizes with an uneven, bumpy bottom and fuzzy contours. Areas around the ulcer infiltrated tumor cells that penetrate into all layers of the stomach wall and adjacent organs.

With this type of tumor, the wall of the stomach around it is compacted, thickened. The mucous membrane surrounding the tumor is rigid, atrophied, its folds are often straightened. Localization of the tumor occurs most often at the outlet of the stomach, in the subcardial region and on the lesser curvature. It starts to metastasize very early.

Diffuse fibrous cancer (skirr) is one of the most common forms of gastric cancer, diagnosed in 25-30% of cases and ranks second in frequency of occurrence. It is most often located in the outlet section of the stomach, wrinkling its walls, narrowing the lumen and gradually spreading to the entire stomach. The walls of the stomach in this form are thickened, the folds of the mucous membrane are also thickened, have multiple ulcerations. Often, symptoms of cancerous lymphangitis develop - the germination of cancer cells through the lymphatic vessels. Tumor tissue can infiltrate in the ligaments of the stomach, as a result of which it is pulled up to the liver, or other organs.

Diffuse colloid carcinoma is a very rare type of tumor, localizing predominantly in the submucosal layer or between the layers of the mucous membrane. The wall of the stomach at the same time, as it were, is saturated with mucous masses, consisting of mucus-forming cells. The wall of the stomach is strongly thickened, the stomach itself is significantly enlarged in size.

About 10-15 cases of cancer have mixed or transient features. The above symptoms and the stomach are far from complete, but they can help patients pay attention in time and start treatment of this insidious disease in a timely manner. This may reduce the incidence of advanced gastric cancer and significantly increase the rate of treatment success.

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Gastric cancer is a malignant tumor of the stomach lining. The disease is classified according to the type of tissue affected. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which consists of mutated cells of the glandular tissue of the stomach.

Pathology accounts for 90% of all cases of cancerous lesions. Oncology of the stomach also distinguishes another type of gastric cancer process - a sarcoma, which develops from muscle, adipose or blood tissue.

Timely diagnosis allows you to completely cure a malignant pathology. Due to the poor clinical picture of neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract, early diagnosis is significantly more difficult. In most cases stomach cancer established in the later stages of the disease.

Causes of stomach cancer

The exact cause of malignant lesions of the stomach is unknown, but a number of factors increase the risk of pathology:

Gender - in men, the stomach is twice as common as in women;
Genetic - congenital anomalies in the structure of the digestive tract increases the risk of cancerous lesions;
Geographic - malignant neoplasms are more common in the population of Japan, the countries of the former Soviet Union, Central and South America;
Blood groups - people with the first blood type have a greater propensity for stomach cancer;
Elderly age - cancer very often diagnosed in men and women aged 70-74 years;
Family predisposition;
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol abuse, and eating a diet low in fruit and vegetables significantly increase cancer risk;
Infections of the stomach. The bacterium Helicobacter pylori infects the mucous membrane and causes inflammatory changes in it.

The first signs of stomach cancer

In the early stages of the disease, patients may experience the following symptoms:

Indigestion, acidity and belching:

The earliest signs of stomach cancer may be acidity and belching. Many patients diagnosed with cancer have observed symptoms of the disease for many years and did not pay any attention to them, since such signs were considered an indicator of inflammation of the stomach. According to statistics, for every 50 people with similar symptoms, there is one patient with a cancer diagnosis.

Feeling of stomach fullness:

The first sign of stomach cancer- this is the onset of a feeling of satiety until the full intake of a normal amount of food. If this perception of food lasts for a long period of time, then the person begins to lose weight, which indicates the presence.

Bleeding, fatigue and shortness of breath:

Even the early stages of the disease can be accompanied by gastric bleeding. Chronic blood loss can lead to anemia. This means that the concentration of red blood cells becomes significantly lower than normal. Anemia is manifested by pallor skin feeling tired and even short of breath.

Signs in the form of vomiting with bloody discharge are not common symptoms, but can sometimes be detected. In this case, the blood has a bright color, which indicates a fresh internal wound. Conversely, if the blood has a dark color ( coffee grounds), then this is a sign of old bleeding.

Increased blood clotting:

Thrombus formation can also be considered as early signs of stomach cancer. If you find swelling of the legs, pain in the lower extremities along the venous system and general weakness with shortness of breath, you should consult an oncologist about oncological diseases of the digestive system.

Early signs of stomach cancer

The first signs of stomach cancer in the course of the development of the disease, common symptoms of oncological diseases are added:

Loss of appetite and weight loss:

Loss of appetite and body weight are often symptoms of advanced cancer, although some people lose their appetite early in the disease.

The presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity:

Ascites, or the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, indicates the progression of a cancerous neoplasm;

Blood in stool:

Some types of cancer cause chronic bleeding in the stomach. Blood after passing through the entire digestive system become black.

Diagnosis of stomach cancer

If the doctor, based on the patient's complaints, suspected an oncological problem with the stomach, then the next stage of the examination is gastroscopy, which is performed using special equipment.

The gastroscope is a thin, flexible telescope. It is introduced into the stomach through the oral cavity and esophagus, which allows you to examine in detail the entire inner surface and walls of the stomach.

To confirm the diagnosis, doctors use a biopsy, which consists in lifetime removal small area affected tissue for histological examination.

Diagnostic methods such as ultrasound, radiography, MRI of the stomach are considered additional and allow you to clarify the shape, location and structure of the tumor.

This is a very serious disease characterized by uncontrolled reproduction of abnormal cells. This pathology is several times more often diagnosed in men, and over the age of 50 years. In this article, we will talk about how stomach cancer develops (symptoms and manifestations of the disease in the early stages), as well as what methods of treatment modern medicine offers.

General information

This is a nature that is distinguished by the development of a malignant neoplasm from the epithelium of the mucous membrane. A tumor can form in any part of this organ. The risk of getting sick increases significantly both in men and in the fair sex after 50 years. As for the issue of the geographical distribution of this pathology, in Russia this disease is in second place in terms of the frequency of diagnosis among all neoplasms of a malignant nature. So, for every 100,000 healthy people, there are approximately 36 sick people. The situation is worse only in Japan, Scandinavia and Brazil.

According to experts, over the past 30 years, circumstances have changed dramatically. Doctors note a gradual decrease in the incidence of cancer. For example, in America, this pathology is diagnosed relatively rarely (only five cases per 100,000 population).

Today, scientists have proven that oncology cannot occur in an absolutely healthy stomach. The disease is always preceded by the so-called precancerous stage, when a change in the nature of the cells lining the inside of this organ is observed. On average, this condition lasts from 10 to about 20 years.

The stomach in the early stages can be confused with gastritis or an ulcer. Initially, a small tumor forms. Over time, it can increase in size, grow deeper and wider. At this stage, the disease manifests itself in the form of a violation of normal digestion. As a result, a person begins to lose weight for no reason. Growing through the walls of the stomach, the neoplasm can move to other organs (colon, pancreas).

The disease is characterized by the early appearance of metastases (separation from the tumor and their further spread throughout the body). They most often affect the lymph nodes and liver. Also, the lungs, bones, peritoneal space, ovaries can be involved in the pathological process. The work of all affected organs gradually changes, which leads to death.

Main reasons

Currently, the exact causes that provoke the development of the disease are not fully understood. Specialists only identify a set of factors, the action of which together leads to the formation of cancer.

bacterium Helicobacter pylori. Scientists have long proven that this bacterium can not only survive perfectly in an acidic environment, but also cause peptic ulcers and gastritis. As medical practice shows, sometimes these pathologies degenerate into cancer. Helicobacter Pylori gradually deforms the mucosa of the organ, hydrochloric acid begins to affect the unprotected walls of the stomach, causing numerous erosions. This kind of ulceration is considered an excellent environment for the vital activity of cancer cells.
Unhealthy food. The presence in the diet of fried, fatty, spicy and salty foods several times increases the likelihood of developing a malignant neoplasm.
The presence of nitrates and nitrites in the body. It is assumed that these substances have a high chemical activity. They can violate the usual integrity of the cells of the gastric mucosa and penetrate into their structure. The source of nitrates and nitrites in our country, as a rule, are vegetables. In addition, salts of nitrous and nitric acids are found in large quantities in smoked meats, some cheeses, tobacco, and beer.
Bad habits. In addition to the fact that nitrates and nitrites are also present in alcoholic beverages in high doses, ethyl alcohol itself can act as a provocateur of malignant neoplasms. Scientists have proven that the longer a person smokes, the higher the likelihood that symptoms of stomach and intestinal cancer will be detected at a young age.
Long-term medication. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids - all of these medicines have a number of side effects which include the development of stomach ulcers. As you know, it can develop into a real tumor.
Exposure to radiation.

The risk group also includes people with overweight, hereditary predisposition and other oncological ailments.

What diseases can precede stomach cancer?

Anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency. This vitamin plays a direct role in the formation of many body cells.
polyps of the stomach.
Some subspecies of chronic gastritis (atrophic form, Menetrier's disease, etc.).
Gastric ulcer. According to experts, in 12% of cases this pathology develops into stomach cancer.

Symptoms and manifestation of the disease

This ailment at the initial stages of development, as a rule, does not have specific signs. The patient may feel constant fatigue, complain of rapid fatigue and causeless. After eating, the patient may experience heartburn, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, bloating, or even indigestion. Such symptoms of stomach cancer in the early stages (photos of patients can be found in the medical literature) should be the reason for seeking medical advice.

As the disease progresses and the tumor grows, new symptoms may appear:

Chair disorder.
Discomfort in the upper abdomen.
Fast saturation.
An increase in the size of the abdomen.
Iron-deficiency anemia.
Vomiting with blood.

All of the above signs most often indicate stomach cancer. Symptoms, manifestations of the disease are not a sufficient condition for confirming the diagnosis, as they may indicate other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. It is extremely important to undergo a detailed examination.

Disease classification

Based on which cells underlie the neoplasm, the following types of stomach cancer are distinguished:

Adenocarcinoma. This is the most common form of the disease. Tumor formation occurs on the basis of those cells that are directly responsible for the production of mucus.
Leiomyosarcoma. The neoplasm consists mainly of muscle cells of the organ.
Lymphoma. The basis of the tumor are lymphatic cells.
Solid cancer of the stomach. Photos of this pathology can be viewed only in the specialized literature, since it is extremely rare.
Ring cell carcinoma. Examination of such a neoplasm under a microscope reveals the similarity of forms with a ring, which was the reason for its name. This form of the disease is characterized by a rapid increase in pathological cells and early metastasis.

Stages of the disease

Today, experts conditionally distinguish several stages in the development of pathology, thanks to which it is possible to classify stomach cancer. Symptoms and manifestations of the disease at the initial stages of development may be absent, which greatly complicates its diagnosis.

The term “five-year survival rate” is widely used to predict cancer treatment. If after therapy the patient lives 5 years, he can be considered healthy. Such a patient has every chance that he will never encounter this type of cancer again.

The overall survival rate for this disease, according to statistics, is 20% among all patients. This relatively low percentage is due to the late diagnosis of the disease. However, each specific case nevertheless it is individual, whether it is the initial stage of the development of the disease or gastric cancer of the 4th degree with metastases. How long people with such a diagnosis live depends primarily on the timeliness of treatment and compliance with all doctor's recommendations.

Zero stage. At this stage, only the gastric mucosa is involved in the pathological process. Treatment is carried out through In 90% of cases, patients recover completely.
First stage. The tumor penetrates deeper into the mucous membrane, metastases form in the lymph nodes around the stomach. With timely treatment, the probability of recovery is from 60 to 80%.
Second stage. The neoplasm does not affect only muscle tissue. The five-year survival rate for diagnosing the disease is 56%.
Third stage. Pathological cells penetrate the walls of the organ, the lymph nodes are completely affected. With a diagnosis of stomach cancer, stage 3, life expectancy is low (15 out of a hundred people can live five years or more).
Fourth stage. A cancerous tumor penetrates deeply not only into the organ itself, but also metastasizes to other parts of the body (pancreas, liver, ovaries, lungs). In this form, the disease is diagnosed in 80% of patients. However, only five out of a hundred people are likely to live five years or more.

Experts warn: even a complete cure for oncology does not in every case have a positive prognosis. The thing is that such a disease has a tendency to relapse, which can only occasionally be eliminated by repeated surgical intervention. Late detection of the disease in our country is explained very simply. Firstly, many doctors do not have enough knowledge in this field of medicine to confirm the disease in time. Secondly, patients seek help very late, for example, when they are diagnosed with stage 3 stomach cancer. How long do such patients live? Of course, neglecting one's own health entails worse prognosis.

Diagnostics

Treatment can only be successful if a specialist in the early stages can confirm stomach cancer. The manifestations of the first signs of the disease should alert and become a reason for seeking advice from a gastroenterologist.

Today, gastroscopy (EGDS) is considered the main method for studying pathology. During this procedure, the doctor assesses the general condition of the mucous membrane of the organ, makes a biopsy of its suspicious areas. Histological examination of the obtained material allows you to determine the nature of the neoplasm (malignant / benign). Sometimes additionally assigned:

Treatment

Can stomach cancer be cured? Manifestations of a malignant tumor, the presence of metastases, the size of the neoplasm, the degree of its germination in neighboring areas - all these factors primarily determine the tactics of therapeutic measures. Modern medicine offers three treatment options for this kind of pathology: removal of the tumor through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The specific treatment strategy is chosen by the doctor after a complete examination of the patient.

In the case of early diagnosis of the tumor (zero or first stage), when there are no metastases, it is possible to completely excise the cancerous tumor. During the operation, the doctor removes a section of the stomach wall, nearby tissues, and lymph nodes.

Radiation therapy is recommended to stop the growth of abnormal cells and reduce the size of the tumor itself. Chemotherapy has to be resorted to in the diagnosis of "gastric cancer of the 4th degree with metastases." Unfortunately, it is impossible to say for sure how long patients live after a course of treatment. Very often, doctors prescribe radiation and chemotherapy together to enhance the positive effect.

Diet

Of course, with such a diagnosis, it is recommended to pay special attention not only to the therapy itself, but also to the daily diet. Experts advise avoiding foods that contain nitrates. The thing is that these substances are able to degenerate into nitrites and form nitrosamines. The latter, in turn, often act as the main cause of the development of gastric cancer. The formation of nitrosamines can be prevented by regular consumption of foods with antioxidants, vitamins C and E. In addition, the daily diet of a patient with this diagnosis should include food with a low glycemic index. Such foods are slowly digested and help maintain a stable blood sugar level.

This article has already listed the main methods of how to diagnose stomach cancer in the early stages. After the doctor has confirmed the presence of the disease and prescribed the appropriate treatment, the question arises of how to eat. The diet of the patient should be as balanced as possible and rich in vitamins. It is recommended to eat fruits and vegetables (preferably raw), chicken and lean fish (source of protein).

You will have to give up everything fatty and fried, sweets and pastries, red meat is banned. In consultation with the doctor, salt can be excluded from the diet. The thing is that its consumption in large quantities contributes to the formation of ulcers on the walls of an already weakened stomach due to treatment.

Forecast and prevention

Gastric cancer (photos of patients with this disease are presented in this article) is most often diagnosed at the stage of an already incurable tumor. Only in 40% of cases, doctors detect a neoplasm in which there is a chance of a successful prognosis of a cure. Here we are talking about the disease in the early stages and without metastases. The rapid course of the pathology is most often found in the diagnosis of "gastric cancer, stage 3". The life expectancy of such patients and their general condition practically do not differ from those in the case of the disease of the fourth stage. In both situations, the prognosis for patients is extremely unfavorable.

Surgical treatment, coupled with various methods of antitumor therapy, gives a five-year survival rate in 12% of patients. If the symptoms of stomach cancer in the early stages were noticed by the patients themselves, and they immediately sought medical help, the survival rate increases to 70%.

As for the issue of prevention, experts today strongly recommend treating all ailments in a timely manner, leading a healthy lifestyle and eating right. In addition, it is very important to eliminate bad habits, with special attention to taking medications.

In conclusion, it should be noted that today more and more often diagnosed with stomach cancer. Symptoms and manifestation of this disease should be the reason for consultation with a specialist. The sooner the doctor confirms the pathology and prescribes the appropriate treatment, the higher the chances of a favorable prognosis. Lost time or inattention to one's own body often cost a person's life.

Among all cancers, stomach cancer is the most common in the world. This disease leads to severe complications, and in case of late diagnosis, to painful death. Despite the fact that there are many accurate diagnostic tools, it is detected too late. The reason is simple. Many do not pay due attention to the first signs of the disease, write off the ailments for various factors.

The danger of late diagnosis

Even in the early stages, oncological disease causes severe complications. Most often it is:

dysphagia;
metabolic disease;
pyloric stenosis;
dysfunction of the stomach;
stomach bleeding;
tumor perforation.

The tumor may disintegrate, and this leads to an abscess. But the most dangerous is metastasis. It causes not only intoxication of the body, but also contributes to the growth of the tumor in other organs, disrupting their work. This leads to a painful death. And the treatment at this stage of the disease basically boils down to the fact that the dying patient is injected with strong painkillers to alleviate the near-death condition.

Therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease before it leads to such a deplorable outcome. And this can be done only if the patient does not self-medicate, and in case of ailments seeks medical help.

The diagnosis of early gastric cancer is complicated by the fact that the disease manifests itself in various ways. At the first stage, specific signs are not expressed, according to which the disease is diagnosed with accuracy. There is a symptom complex, according to which one can assume the development of a malignant neoplasm in the stomach and prescribe an additional examination.

The first signs of stomach cancer

The disease in the first stages is almost painless. The tumor is detected by X-ray examination or due to massive internal bleeding. Pain in the stomach occurs in the later stages, when the tumor grows into neighboring organs and tissues. Therefore, early diagnosis is difficult.

In 1951 A.I. Savitsky singled out several symptoms of the disease, which he combined into a symptom complex of "small signs":

stomach discomfort;
causeless weakness, fatigue, decreased performance;
anorexia, loss of appetite, up to disgust for food, especially for meat;
sudden and unreasonable weight loss;
depression, apathy.

All these signs together make it possible to suspect the development of the disease in a patient. But for a more accurate diagnosis, additional examinations are required.

Later, other symptoms appear, which are divided into groups:

General. They are caused by intoxication of the body, so patients complain of decreased appetite, weakness, weight loss, and malaise.
Associated with stomach disorders. Manifested by pain and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, belching.
Arising from the spread of the process. Characterized by dysphagia, vomiting, gastric bleeding.

Initially appear general symptoms. Later, patients begin to complain of discomfort in the stomach. Then there is a pain syndrome, perforation of the tumor, bleeding, intestinal obstruction. Symptoms of the disease can be different and to a greater extent depend on which part of the stomach is affected..

It's important to know! At the first signs of the disease, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a complete examination. Under no circumstances should you resort to folk ways treatment and self-prescribe medications, even if these remedies have wonderful reviews on the Internet.

Dependence of symptoms on tumor localization

Signs of cancer are very variable, but they can determine which area is affected.

When the tumor is localized in the proximal part, partial dysphagia immediately occurs, then complete dysphagia. Patients complain of hiccups, regurgitation, weight loss, pain in the left side of the chest.
If the body of the stomach is affected, the symptoms are less pronounced. Most patients complain of loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness. Blood test shows anemia.
When the tumor is located on the greater curvature, in the middle third of the stomach, the disease is asymptomatic. Patients rarely complain of gastric disorders. In later stages, pain in the epigastric region occurs. Most often, the first symptom of the disease in this case is bleeding (melena, hypochromic anemia).
With cancer of the distal pyloric stenosis occurs, patients complain of a feeling of heaviness in the stomach, belching, vomiting, weight loss. The tumor can affect the pancreas. In this case, there are sharp pains in the back, doctors diagnose obstructive jaundice. If the disease affects the transverse colon, the patient is diagnosed with intestinal obstruction.

At the beginning of the development of the disease, patients complain of stomach pains that radiate to the lower back and occur shortly after eating, with movements they intensify. The same pain occurs with gastritis. Cancer pains differ in that they do not subside after eating, do not depend on the season, are more persistent and are not amenable to therapeutic treatment.

Sometimes the pain can be very intense, this is due to the germination of the tumor. Patients complain of back pain and are often treated for sciatica and neuralgia folk methods read on a forum or in an advertisement for miracle cures. And the disease is getting worse. The tumor may begin to disintegrate or grow into neighboring organs, bleeding will occur. In this case, there will be no pain in the stomach. Therefore, atypical forms are distinguished - “masks” according to V.Kh. Vasilenko:

Feverish. The patient has a constant subfebrile body temperature, which periodically rises to 39-40 C.
Hypoglycemic. The germination of the tumor in the pancreas is accompanied by a sharp decrease in the level of glucose in the blood, which can lead to hypoglycemic coma.
Icteric. Occurs when the tumor decays, leading to intoxication and disruption of the liver, or with increased hemolysis.
Tetanic. Occurs with cancer of the pyloric part of the stomach, due to pyloric stenosis. In this case, the passage of food is disturbed, vomiting occurs and a violation of the water-salt balance, which leads to tetanic muscle contractions.
cachectic. Characteristic for the elderly, the disease is almost asymptomatic and is accompanied by exhaustion, weakness.
Dyspeptic. Occurs with digestive disorders. Manifested by anorexia, loss of appetite, rapid satiety.

It's important to know! The development of cancer may be preceded by various diseases of the stomach. Therefore, patients with gastritis, ulcers and other precancerous conditions must be registered at the dispensary.

Diseases - harbingers of stomach cancer

Most often, other diseases contribute to the development of cancer, they are also called precancerous. In 1978, WHO identified in this group of conditions:

chronic gastritis;
chronic stomach ulcer;
adenomatous polyps;
resection of the stomach;
Menetrier's disease.

Chronic gastritis precedes the onset of cancer in 75-85% of cases.

Adenomatous polyps, although they are benign neoplasms, can degenerate into malignant tumors.

Numerous studies have found that in the stump of the resected stomach, the risk of developing cancer increases by 4 times. The disease begins to develop 15-20 years after the operation.