Gastric Cancer

Understanding Of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a type of cancer that is gnawing stomach, namely the organs in the abdominal cavity is the man to be one part of the digestive system. This disease can be her by people at all ages, even though most of its victims are aged 55 years and over.

Types of gastric cancer the most common are adenocarcinomas, namely the condition when cancer invades the cells in the inner layer of the stomach that produces liquids such as phlegm (mucus). Besides adenocarcinomas, there are also several other types of gastric cancer although rarely found in people with this disease. In between these types:

• Stromal tumors (GIST) gastrointestina, i.e. cancer that attacks connective tissue or muscles of the abdominal wall.
• Lymphoma of the stomach, i.e. cancer that attacks the lymphatic tissues or tissues that help fight infection.
• Carcinoid cancer, i.e. attacking the hormone-producing cells in the stomach.

Symptoms of gastric cancer

Here are some symptoms that can be experienced with cancer of the stomach at an early stage:

• Frequent bloating and belching
• Stomach feels heartburn or pain
• Pain in sternum
• Quick satiety when eating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficult swallowing food
• Digestive disorders that often kumat

Some of the symptoms of gastric cancer in more severe stages are:

• Vomiting blood
• Anemia
• Jaundice
• Lost appetite
• Black colored stools or there is blood in the stool
• The body feels tired
• Weight loss
• Swelling of the abdomen

Development of symptoms or cancerous growth in sufferers can vary. There is growing slowly, medium, or fast. Gastric cancer symptoms in the early stages is usually hard to be known because of almost the same symptoms as other gastric conditions, such as peptic ulcers. Because it needed a doctor's examination to ascertain the diagnosis. Immediately checking yourself if feel the symptoms above.

Causes of gastric cancer

Causes of gastric cancer is still not known for sure. But in General, cancer occurs when cells in certain parts of the stomach growing uncontrollably. Due to the excessive growth, cells that have had normal to help the body function properly, thus being accumulated into a destructive tumor and can spread to other parts of the body.

Some factors that can increase a person's risk of developing cancer of the stomach are:

• Smoking. Hazardous substances contained in cigarettes can damage the walls of the stomach. Therefore a smoker will have twice the risk of developing cancer of the stomach than those who do not smoke.
• Food. Too much eating of bacon, salt, salted fish, pickles, as well as foods that contain aflatoxin. This condition is exacerbated by the lack of consuming fruits and vegetables.
• Aged 55 or over and the male sex.
• Pylori bacterial infection. This bacteria is the cause of stomach ailments such as indigestion, peptic ulcers, and inflammation of the lining of the stomach.
• Suffering from a stomach infection in a long time.
• Suffering from pernicious anemia. This condition occurs when a person is a deficiency of vitamin B12.
• Suffering from a condition that causes the appearance of polyps in the stomach.
• Have a close relative had gastric cancer.
• Never had surgery on the stomach.
• Suffering from other types of cancer. Cancer Lymphoma or cancer of the white blood cells, cancer of the esophagus or esophageal cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and lung cancer have a higher risk of gastric cancer.

Stages of the development of gastric cancer

There are four stages that determine the severity of the disease, gastric cancer include:

• Stage 1. At this stage the cancer has begun to grow in the tissue layers in the stomach or have spread in nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 2. At this stage the spread of cancer in the lymph nodes was further expanded, and has spread deeper into the gastric wall muscular layer.
• Stage 3. At this stage the entire lining of the stomach is already encroached on cancer or many small cancerous growths that spread to many lymph nodes.
• Stage 4. This is the most severe level of gastric cancer. At this stage the cancer has spread further and invade other body organs.

The determination of the severity of gastric cancer could be done through diagnosis. This is useful in helping the doctor to give a proper treatment.

Diagnosis of gastric cancer

To find out whether a patient is suffering from stomach cancer, the doctor will first ask the perceived symptoms. In addition, the doctor will also ask whether the patient is suffering from a condition that can magnify the risk of developing gastric cancer or whether he has close family with cancer of the colon.

After patient explanation was obtained, the doctor can perform a simple examination by way of checking the patient's stomach to notice any swelling around the stomach.

To ascertain whether the person exposed to gastric cancer, the doctor will conduct further examinations, such as:

• Examination of feces for the presence of blood.
• Examination of blood.
• Endoscopy. This inspection is carried out by means of inserting a special tool such a smaller hose into the stomach through the esophagus. A tool equipped camera can help the doctor see any cancer. Through examination of the endoscope, the physician can also take tissue samples of the stomach and then examined in a laboratory.
• X-ray examination. In the cases of gastric cancer, x-ray checking will be combined with a liquid containing barium substance. Substances that must be ingested by the patient this will help x-rays produce images on a monitor. For 6 hours before performing this examination procedure, patients are not allowed to consume food or drinks, and the inspection usually lasts for 15 minutes. Possible side effects the patient felt after doing this examination is nausea and constipation.
• CT scan. This examination can help doctors find out how far the development of cancer, whether the cancer is only found in the stomach or has spread to other organs. Scanning that uses a series of x-rays and the help this computer can produce images of the body in detail.
• Laparoscopic surgery. This examination procedure done by inserting a tool called berkamera laparoskop through a small incision made by doctors at the very bottom of the stomach. Surely in this procedure the patient had to be sedated in advance. Laparoscopic surgery aims to see the State of the stomach in more detail. Through this inspection, the doctor can tell if gastric cancer has spread, especially to the part of the peritoneum or the lining of the abdominal cavity.
• Ultrasound. Examination using ultrasound waves aims to see if gastric cancer has invaded the organ was the liver.

Treatment of gastric cancer

The main goal of treatment gastric cancer is the disease heals up completely to its roots. Methods employed usually depend on the severity of the illness and the patient's health condition in General. In the case of gastric cancer that cannot be cured, treatment is usually aimed at making patients as comfortable as possible by reducing the perceived symptoms. It is estimated up to 30 percent of patients of gastric cancer could be treated until healed. The following are the three main types of treatment in cases of gastric cancer.

Radiotherapy

The goal of radiation therapy is to kill the cancer cells. In radiotherapy, treatment methods is carried out using a steady energy radiation. Usually the method of radiotherapy applied to cases of gastric cancer with the symptoms of bleeding high stadium.

Before the operation, radiotherapy can be done to minimize the size of the tumor of the stomach so it is easier to be appointed. Whereas radiotherapy is done afterwards aimed at killing cancer cells that may remain, as well as prevent cancer growing back.

However, there are some side effects from the use of radiotherapy which must also be observed, including the following:

• Irritation or blackish color on the skin around the treated area.
• Diarrhea.
• Tired.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Digestive disorders.

Implementation of radiotherapy is usually done on a regular basis every week. In one week, there are usually five times during the five-day treatment sessions and each session lasts for a few minutes. The deadline for the treatment of radiotherapy depends on destination and severity. For example, to relieve symptoms in cases of gastric cancer high stage generally lasts up to two weeks. Whereas in order to prevent the cancer coming back, generally lasting up to five weeks.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a way to kill cancer cells through the grant of a number of drugs. These drugs can be taken tablet shaped, drip, or a combination of both.

In gastric cancer, chemotherapy before surgery usually aim for menyusutkan tumors, relieve the perceived symptoms of the patient, or slow down the spread of the cancer. Chemotherapy can also be given postoperatively to prevent cancer is back.

Same as radiotherapy, chemotherapy implementation time is divided into several sessions. There are only last for three weeks or a few months with a certain constant dosing.

Some side effects of chemotherapy are:

• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Body feels tired.
• Anemia.
• Hair loss.
• Nerve damage.

These side effects usually disappear after chemotherapy treatment is over. The side effects of chemotherapy on gastric cancer patients each can vary depending on the patient's own reaction towards the treatment, the number of treatment sessions are done, and the type of chemotherapy drugs are given.

Operation

Type of operation handling of gastric cancer is done depending on the severity of the spread of cancer itself. For example if the cancer in its early stages still undiagnosed and develop in the wall of the stomach, then the procedure called endoscopic resection can be performed.

Through this procedure the doctor doesn't need to dissect the patient and simply enter a tool an endoscope into the stomach through the mouth and esophagus. With a special tool fitted this camera, doctors can pick up the cancer of the lining of the stomach and leaving only healthy tissue.

Operating procedure which is still included in the treatment of gastric cancer staging partial gastrectomy is low. However, in this procedure, the doctor will perform the surgery on the patient's abdomen to remove the infected part of the gastric cancer. Partial gastrectomy is generally done if the cancer was still in the hull bottom and has not spread to the middle and the top.

Further than partial gastrectomy is a total gastrectomy. This procedure is carried out if the cancer has spread to the middle and upper part of the stomach. In this case the doctor would have had to lift the entire stomach patients and directly connect the intestine with the tip of the funnel of the esophagus.

The appointment of the lymph nodes that are thought to have been encroached on by cancer will also be done. This procedure is also useful to prevent cancer relapse again.

Risks of surgery

Same as other gastric cancer treatment methods, surgery may also lead to risks. Some of these are:

• Bleeding.
• Digestive disorders.
• The infection.

Prevention of gastric cancer

To avoid stomach cancer, do some healthy steps below.

• Reduce the consumption of salt and processed foods are smoked.
• Multiply eat vegetables and fruits.
• Don't smoke.
• Don't ignore and obati up thoroughly if you suffer from infection in the stomach.
• Take care and always follow the rules of the physicians in the use of aspirin or non-steroidal drugs a bitter taste.

The chances of recovering the sufferer of gastric cancer

The chances of recovering from cancer of the stomach depends on several factors, such as the patient's health condition in General, the age of the patient, and as high as what the severity or how far the gastric cancer has spread the first time undiagnosed.

Because the symptoms of gastric cancer is almost the same with a few other gastric problems, then generally sufferers are not aware to gastric cancer was already at the stadium when undiagnosed. According to the study, as many as fifteen percent of gastric cancer sufferers can still live at least five years after diagnosis and approximately eleven percent undiagnosed can still live at least ten years into the future.

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