How is gastric cancer caused?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 28, 2024
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The causes of gastric cancer are not yet clearly understood. However, its occurrence is associated with poor dietary habits, such as irregular eating—sometimes skipping a meal, sometimes overeating, not having meals on time—and consuming pickled food, barbecued junk food, and other unhealthy dietary practices. Additionally, smoking, alcohol consumption, infection with Helicobacter pylori, chronic gastric diseases such as atrophic gastritis, and genetic factors are all somewhat related to the development of this condition.

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Mid-stage symptoms of gastric cancer

Symptoms of mid-stage gastric cancer can include nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, decreased food intake, and upper abdominal pain, as well as symptoms related to the digestive tract. Some patients may also experience black stool or even vomiting blood, which are symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Additionally, there can be bloating and abdominal pain. If the tumor is located near the pylorus and causes pyloric obstruction, clinical symptoms will include vomiting, vomiting of overnight food, and resulting in gastric retention. This can lead to significant symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, and nausea.

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Can stomach cancer be cured?

Whether gastric cancer can be cured depends greatly on the stage at which it is discovered. Clinically, if there is no recurrence or metastasis within five years, it is considered cured. The treatment of gastric cancer is primarily surgical. Therefore, for early-stage gastric cancer patients, if a surgeon assesses that curative surgery is feasible, it is recommended to perform a radical surgical resection. For stage I gastric cancer patients, the five-year survival rate after surgical treatment can generally reach over 90%, which is quite effective. However, for those with advanced gastric cancer, it is generally incurable. Treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or optimal symptomatic supportive care, aim to alleviate the patient's suffering and extend their life, but generally cannot cure advanced gastric cancer.

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Oncology
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Can late-stage gastric cancer be treated?

Patients with late-stage gastric cancer generally may not have the opportunity for curative surgery, which is mainly suitable for early-stage gastric cancer patients. For late-stage gastric cancer patients, the treatment plan should be chosen based on the specific condition of the patient. If the patient's general condition is relatively good, chemotherapy can be an option. The type of chemotherapy, whether intravenous combination chemotherapy or oral drugs like tegafur capsules or capecitabine, which generally have milder reactions, depends on the patient's condition. Additionally, late-stage gastric cancer patients can try molecular targeted therapy, such as anti-angiogenesis drugs like apatinib, etc. Therefore, treatment options should be selected based on specific circumstances. The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.

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How to check for gastric cancer?

Gastroscopy is very important in the examination of gastric cancer, and taking a biopsy under gastroscopy is an important means of diagnosis. Other examinations include endoscopic ultrasound or enhanced abdominal CT and chest CT to assess the staging of the patient. With endoscopic ultrasound, we can see which layer of the stomach wall the tumor has invaded and then combine it with chest and abdominal CT scans to assess whether there is distant metastasis. Diagnosis requires gastroscopy with a biopsy taken during the procedure.

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early symptoms of gastric cancer

The early symptoms of gastric cancer are similar to those of some gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis, gastric ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. They don't have very specific clinical manifestations. Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen, and acid reflux-like symptoms, which are early symptoms in patients with gastric cancer. Therefore, when such symptoms appear, it is essential to seek medical attention promptly and undergo a thorough gastroscopy.