Stomach cancer is another of the cancers which tends to be roughly twice as prevalent in men than in women. It can behave in different ways, depending on whether it is of a more superficial and less aggressive type or more invasive and aggressive. It begins in the stomach lining, and can spread through the stomach wall from where it is able to start invading nearby lymph nodes and other organs such as the pancreas and spleen. It may also spread to the liver via the bloodstream.
It is clear that there are links between the incidence of stomach cancer and some types of diet.
One of the problems with stomach cancer is that it may not produce any readily distinguishable symptoms in its early stages. Signs which you may become aware of include an indigestion-type ache, pain in the upper part of the abdomen and a general sense of tiredness, loss of appetite and weight loss. These are, of course, symptoms which many of us experience from time to time and to which we may therefore attach little significance. If they persist, however, then you should have a check-up with your doctor.
Diagnosis of stomach cancer is by taking a biopsy, which is done using a gastroscope, a tube which is passed into the stomach via the mouth to look at the stomach and take samples. You are also likely to have a barium meal X-ray of your stomach, in which the barium you drink is highlighted on the X-ray and makes it easier for doctors to examine the contents of your stomach. You may also have blood tests and further scans, to check whether there is any spread of cancer.
Surgery is the main form of treatment for stomach cancer and the details of the operation will depend upon the location of the tumour and whether the cancer has spread. Radiotherapy may be used if surgery is not feasible or to control symptoms if the tumour has spread beyond the stomach. Chemotherapy may be useful in some cases, particularly for the relief of symptoms when the cancer has spread.
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