Stomach Cancer
What
are symptoms of stomach cancer?
Stomach
cancer can be hard to find early. Often there are no symptoms
in the early stages and, in many cases, the cancer has spread
before it is found. When symptoms do occur, they are often
so vague that the person ignores them. Stomach cancer can
cause:
* Indigestion or a burning sensation (heartburn);
* Discomfort or pain in the abdomen;
* Nausea and vomiting;
* Diarrhea or constipation;
* Bloating of the stomach after meals;
* Loss of appetite;
* Weakness and fatigue; and
* Bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool).
Any
of these symptoms can be caused by cancer or by other, less
serious health problems, such as a stomach virus or an ulcer.
People who have any of these symptoms should see their doctor.
They may be referred to a gastroenterologist (GI), a doctor
who specializes in diagnosing and treating digestive problems.
How
is stomach cancer diagnosed?
To
find the cause of symptoms, the doctor asks about the patient's
medical history, does a physical exam, and may order laboratory
studies. The patient may also have one or all of the following
exams:
Fecal
occult blood test - a check for hidden (occult) blood in
the stool. This test is done by placing a small amount of
stool on a plastic slide or on special paper. It may be
tested in the doctor's office or sent to a laboratory. This
test is done because stomach cancer sometimes causes bleeding
that cannot be seen. However, noncancerous conditions can
also cause bleeding, so having blood in the stool does not
necessarily mean that a person has cancer.
Upper
GI series - x-rays of the esophagus and stomach (the upper
gastrointestinal, or GI, tract). The x-rays are taken after
the patient drinks a barium solution, a thick chalky liquid.
(This test is sometimes called a barium swallow.) The barium
outlines the stomach on the x-rays, helping the doctor find
tumors or other abnormal areas. During the test, the doctor
may pump air into the stomach to make small tumors easier
to see. For further information, please visit the Upper
GI Series article.
Endoscopy
- an exam of the esophagus and stomach using a thin, lighted
tube called a gastroscope, which is passed through the mouth
and esophagus to the stomach. The patient's throat is sprayed
with a local anesthetic to reduce discomfort and gagging.
Patients also may receive medicine to relax them. Through
the gastroscope, the doctor can look directly at the inside
of the stomach. If an abnormal area is found, the doctor
can remove some tissue through the gastroscope. Another
doctor, a pathologist, examines the tissue under a microscope
to check for cancer cells. This procedure, removing tissue
and examining it under a microscope, is called a biopsy.
A biopsy is the only sure way to know whether cancer cells
are present.
Staging
If
the pathologist finds cancer cells in the tissue sample,
the patient's doctor needs to know the stage, or extent,
of the disease. Staging exams and tests help the doctor
find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, what
parts of the body are affected. Because stomach cancer can
spread to the liver, the pancreas, and other organs near
the stomach as well as to the lungs, the doctor may order
a CT (or CAT) scan, an ultrasound exam, or other tests to
check these areas.
Staging
may not be complete until after surgery. The surgeon removes
nearby lymph nodes and may take samples of tissue from other
areas in the abdomen. All of these samples are examined
by a pathologist to check for cancer cells. Decisions about
treatment after surgery depend on these findings.
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The information on this page has been extracted from http://www.medicinenet.com/stomach_cancer/page3.htm
