Early symptoms of gastric cancer
The symptoms of early gastric cancer are nonspecific and similar to those of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, gastroparesis, and other benign diseases, making it difficult to distinguish. Screening data shows that 40%-60% of patients with early gastric cancer are asymptomatic. The symptoms of early gastric cancer primarily include pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, hematemesis, blood in stools, melena, and difficulty swallowing. Discomfort in the upper abdomen is the most common symptom, followed by pain beneath the sternum. Generally, early gastric cancer does not present specific physical signs, though tenderness in the upper abdomen is relatively common, and some patients may exhibit signs of anemia.