How to check for gastric cancer?

Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
Updated on September 08, 2024
00:00
00:00

When clinical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, gastric distension or upper abdominal pain, acid reflux, or hematemesis, as well as melena occur, it is necessary to consider the possibility of gastric cancer and seek timely medical attention. Completing a gastroscopy and obtaining a biopsy under gastroscopy are essential. If cancer cells are found, this is the most important diagnostic method for confirming gastric cancer. After the diagnosis of gastric cancer, further examinations like endoscopic ultrasound and CT scans of the chest and abdomen are required to assess the approximate stage of the patient and to decide the subsequent treatment plan.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
51sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
32sec home-news-image

Early manifestations of gastric cancer

The early signs of gastric cancer may include nausea, vomiting, or mild acid reflux, which are symptoms similar to those of gastritis, stomach ulcers, or duodenal ulcers. Therefore, initially, these patients may not take their condition seriously, assuming they might just have gastritis or peptic ulcers. These are some of the early manifestations of gastric cancer, and some patients may also experience discomfort and a feeling of fullness after eating.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Can stomach cancer be cured?

Whether gastric cancer can be cured depends on the stage of the cancer, as well as the patient's own physical condition. For example, early-stage gastric cancer patients, who are diagnosed as early-stage through examinations such as endoscopic ultrasonography and enhanced CT of the chest and abdomen, and assessed by surgeons as suitable for curative surgery, are primarily treated with curative surgery. The prognosis for these early-stage gastric cancer patients is generally good, with a relatively high five-year survival rate. Post-operation, based on the pathological findings, it is decided whether postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are necessary. There is hope for curing patients in these early stages through these treatment methods. However, if a patient is found to have advanced-stage gastric cancer, for example with metastases to distant organs like the liver and lungs, the cancer is not completely curable. The purpose of treatment in such cases is to alleviate the patient's pain and extend their survival, but it can’t achieve a curative effect.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
39sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Liang
Oncology
58sec home-news-image

How is gastric cancer treated?

The treatment methods for gastric cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, as well as broad-spectrum targeted therapies against angiogenesis, such as apatinib. Immunotherapy is also an option. However, the specific treatment plan is based on a comprehensive consideration of various factors, including the stage of the cancer and the general condition of the patient. The principle is that for early-stage gastric cancer patients, if the surgeon assesses that surgery is feasible, then radical surgical treatment is primarily used. For advanced-stage patients who are in generally good condition, chemotherapy is the main treatment, combined with a consideration of whether to undergo radiotherapy. For those in very advanced stages, who may not be in good health or those who have had chemotherapy with poor results, anti-angiogenic drugs like apatinib can be chosen as a subsequent treatment.