Stomach cancer

Sometimes, bad cells grow in the stomach.

This can make a person feel sick. They might have a tummy ache. They may not want to eat.

A tiny germ can cause this. This germ lives in the stomach. Eating salty food can also be a risk.

Doctors use a tiny camera to look inside.

They can see if the stomach is okay.

If doctors find it early, they can help. They use medicine or surgery.

Eating fresh fruit can help keep you well. It is good to stay healthy!

Stomach cancer is a disease where bad cells grow in the stomach lining.

Most cases are called gastric adenocarcinomas. These are cancers that start in the glands of the stomach.

Many people do not feel sick at first. Later, they might feel heartburn or tummy pain. They may lose their appetite or lose weight. Some people might even see blood in their stool.

A tiny germ called Helicobacter pylori causes over 60% of cases. This germ lives in the stomach. Other things can also raise the risk. Smoking and eating too much salty food can be risks. Being very overweight can also play a role.

Doctors use a tool called an endoscopy to find cancer. This uses a tiny camera to look inside the stomach.

They may also take a biopsy. A biopsy is when a doctor takes a tiny piece of tissue to study it.

If doctors find it early, they can often cure it. They may use surgery or medicine. In places like Japan, doctors check people often. This helps them find the cancer very early.

Stomach cancer is a serious disease that starts in the lining of the stomach.

This happens when cells grow in an abnormal way. Most cases are called gastric carcinomas. These can be split into different types, such as gastric adenocarcinomas. These cancers can grow into the stomach wall. They can even spread to other parts of the body. This might include the liver, lungs, or bones.

Knowing about this disease is very important for health.

Many people do not feel sick when the cancer first starts. They might only have small signs like heartburn or stomach pain. Other early signs include feeling sick to their stomach or losing their appetite.

As the cancer grows, other signs may appear. A person might lose weight or find it hard to swallow. They might also see blood in their stool. Sometimes, the skin or the whites of the eyes turn yellow. These signs show that the cancer may be getting more advanced.

Scientists have found several things that can increase the risk of this cancer. A tiny germ called Helicobacter pylori is a major cause. It is linked to more than 60% of all cases.

Other risks include smoking and being very overweight. Eating certain foods, like pickled vegetables, may also be a risk. About 10% of cases run in families. A small number of cases come from inherited genetic syndromes. One example is called hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.

Doctors use special tools to find and study stomach cancer. One common way is called an endoscopy. A doctor uses a tiny camera to look inside the stomach.

They may also perform a biopsy. This is when they take a tiny piece of tissue to study it. This is the only sure way to confirm if cancer cells are present. In 2013, scientists even studied a breath test to help find the disease. This test looks at chemicals in the air you breathe out.

Where a person lives can change how they face this disease. In East Asia, rates of stomach cancer are often high. Japan and South Korea have high rates, so they use regular screening.

Because of this screening, many people in South Korea survive over 65% of cases. In the United States, the five-year survival rate is 37.9%. If the cancer is found early, doctors can often cure it. They might use surgery, medicine, or radiation therapy to help.

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a malignant tumor that develops in the lining of the stomach. This disease occurs when cells grow in an abnormal and uncontrolled way. Most cases of stomach cancer are classified as gastric carcinomas.

These carcinomas can be divided into several subtypes based on how the cells look under a microscope. The most common type is gastric adenocarcinoma, which begins in the glandular epithelium of the stomach mucosa. Other types include lymphomas and mesenchymal tumors. Understanding these different forms is essential for medical professionals to determine the best course of treatment.

To understand how this cancer progresses, one must look at the mechanism of cell invasion. Adenocarcinomas tend to be aggressive. They start in the lining and then invade the layers of the stomach wall. They move through the muscularis mucosae and the submucosa. Eventually, they can reach the muscularis propria, which is a deeper muscular layer.

If the cancer is not caught early, it may undergo metastasis. This is the process where cancer cells spread from the stomach to distant parts of the body. Common sites for metastasis include the liver, lungs, bones, and lymph nodes.

It can also spread to the lining of the abdomen.

There are distinct ways that these cancers appear. Under the Lauren classification, gastric adenocarcinomas are split into intestinal type and diffuse type. Intestinal-type cells form irregular tubular structures. In contrast, diffuse-type cancers involve cells that do not stick together well. One severe form is linitis plastica, where the cancer invades the entire stomach.

This can give the stomach a thick, leather bottle-like appearance. Doctors use various tools to see these differences. An endoscopy uses a fiber optic camera to visualize the stomach lining directly.

They may also use endocytoscopy, which provides ultra-high magnification to see cellular structures more clearly.

Research into the causes of stomach cancer has identified several major risk factors. A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori is a primary cause. It is responsible for more than 60% of all stomach cancer cases. The mechanism involves chronic inflammation or the action of specific virulence factors like CagA.

Other risks include smoking, which can increase the risk by 40% to 82% depending on how heavily a person smokes. Obesity is also a factor. It may increase the risk of gastric cardia adenocarcinoma by more than two times. This is often linked to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Dietary habits also play a role, as foods like pickled vegetables are associated with higher risk.

Genetics also play a significant part in some cases. About 10% of stomach cancer cases run in families. Between 1% and 3% of cases are caused by inherited genetic syndromes. One specific example is hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, or HDGC. This is caused by a mutation in the CDH1 gene located on the 16th chromosome. This gene codes for a protein called E-cadherin. This mutation is considered autosomal dominant. This means half of the children of a carrier will likely inherit the same mutation. Families with a history of cancer diagnosed before age 50 are often monitored closely.

Diagnosis is a multi-step process used to confirm the presence of cancer. The most important step is a biopsy. During an endoscopy, a doctor takes a small piece of tissue. This tissue is sent to a pathologist for histological examination. This is the only sure way to confirm cancer cells are present. Doctors may also use medical imaging like CT scans to see if the cancer has spread. In 2013, scientists reported a successful pilot study using a breathalyzer-style test. This test analyzes chemicals in exhaled breath to help diagnose the disease without an invasive procedure.

Stomach cancer is a major global health issue. It is the fifth-leading type of cancer and the third-leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In 2018, it occurred in 1.03 million people and caused 783,000 deaths. It makes up 7% of all cancer cases and 9% of cancer deaths. The impact varies greatly by region. In the United States, the five-year survival rate is 37.9%. However, in South Korea, it is over 65%, and in Japan, it is over 70%. These higher rates in East Asia are partly due to regular screening efforts. Historically, rates declined in the West as refrigeration reduced the need for salted and pickled foods.