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- The most common type is Gastric Adenocarcinoma. It is actually the most common type of cancer (other than skin cancer) worldwide. Gastric Adenocarcinoma is more common in men, Asians, Africans, and Hispanics. There is a very high incidence in Japan, Chile, Colombia, and Central America. The second leading cause of stomach disease is non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
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- There are often no symptoms until
the late stages of the disease
- Stomach discomfort/pain -- often
mild
- Appetite loss
- Early satiety (fill up on food
quickly)
- Weight loss
- Vomiting blood or passing black stools in some cases
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- Mass in stomach is felt in less
than 20% of cases
- Stool sample may show microscopic
blood (guaiac positive)
- Enlarged left supraclavicular
node (Virchow's node), an umbilical nodule, rigid rectal
shelf, or ovarian mass are signs of metastatic
spread
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Liver function is abnormal if
there is metastatic spread to the liver
- Endoscopy (scope passed down the
throat into stomach) with biopsies will make the diagnosis
- An Upper GI series (barium is swallowed and X-Rays are taken)
only when endoscopy is not available (it may miss small
tumors)
- An Abdominal CT scan is done to look for metastases
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- Chronic Helicobacter pylori
infection
- Chronic atrophic Gastritis
- Pernicious Anemia (B12 Deficiency)
- History of partial gastrectomy (the
stomach is removed by surgery)
- Salty and smoked foods (e.g., with nitrites), such as smoked fish, may be a risk factor
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- A surgical resection in early
stages of the disease may provide a cure.
- Late disease (spreads to
structures adjacent to the stomach) or metastatic disease
-There is no cure except for
surgery.
-Radiation and chemotherapy may help to decrease the symptoms.
Lymphoma:
- MALT Lymphoma (a
specific low-grade type) associated with Helicobacter
pylori infection and treatment, often involves only
treating the Helicobacter pylori with antibiotics, which
causes the tumor to regress.
- Early disease -- surgical
resection can be performed.
- Late disease (including metastatic) -- chemotherapy may be curative here
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- Seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Early treatment is the best chance for a cure.
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- If you live in a high-risk area like Japan, routine endoscopy screenings should be performed. Please discuss this with your doctor.
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