Gastric Cancer Symptoms and Treatment
Getting diagnosed with gastric cancer can be a very frightening experience, but knowing the symptoms and understanding the treatment options can help you take control of the situation. Read on to learn more.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastric cancer vary depending on the location and stage of cancer. The most common symptoms at diagnosis are abdominal pain and weight loss. If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor to find out what you can do about the disease.
There are two main types of cancers that affect the stomach: adenocarcinomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Both cancers start in the inner lining of the stomach. These cancers can be diagnosed by pathologic appearance or immunohistochemical staining. The latter can be helpful in distinguishing between adenocarcinomas and lymphoma.
The most common symptoms of gastric cancer are abdominal pain, indigestion, unexplained weight loss, and blood in the stool. These symptoms can be mistaken for less serious conditions, but they are important to know if they appear.
People who have certain risk factors for gastric cancer should discuss with their doctor which screening tests are appropriate. This includes smokers and those with a family history of cancer.
When gastric cancer is detected early, it can be treated with a variety of different methods. First-line treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Other treatments include immunotherapy, which uses the patient’s immune system to fight cancer. This type of therapy removes pre-cancerous growths before they have a chance to become cancerous.
Other signs of gastric cancer include unexplained weight loss, a change in the shape of the abdomen, and difficulty swallowing. In some cases, cancer can spread to the esophagus or other vital organs. If cancer spreads, it is very difficult to treat.
Gastric cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. It is estimated to kill more than 10,570 people each year in the United States. The overall survival rate is about 32 percent.
The main concern with gastric cancer is keeping it from spreading. If cancer has spread, it may cause blood in the stool, difficulty swallowing, and yellow skin. The disease is difficult to treat because it can be difficult to detect and the symptoms can be hard to distinguish from other, less serious conditions.
Diagnosis
During the early stages of gastric cancer, most patients do not show any symptoms. However, as cancer grows, it may spread into the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. In many cases, surgery can help relieve symptoms.
Some patients may also be referred to a doctor specializing in cancer. He or she will perform diagnostic tests to determine if cancer has spread. This can be done by using an endoscope and an ultrasound probe. This gives detailed pictures of the digestive tract.
For gastric cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, surgery is often the best way to treat cancer. This treatment may include the removal of parts of the stomach, lymph nodes, and nearby organs. It may also involve chemotherapy. Depending on the type of cancer, other treatments may be used.
Gastric cancer can be diagnosed through tests of the stomach and the esophagus. In the stomach, tests include a biopsy. This biopsy may involve the removal of cells and tissue to check for Helicobacter pylori infection. It may also measure the number of HER2 genes or the protein HER2. It can also test for cancer that is spreading to the liver or peritoneum.
Gastric cancer may also be diagnosed through imaging tests. These tests may include CT or PET. They will make pictures to check for signs that the cancer is spreading. Surgery may be an option for stomach cancer that has spread.
Surgical resection with regional lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice for gastric cancer. It may also include perioperative chemotherapy for patients with stage II or III gastric cancer.
The incidence of gastric cancer has decreased in the United States and Europe. However, it is still one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Earlier diagnosis and treatment are essential to decrease the number of deaths from this disease.
Treatment of gastric cancer may include chemotherapy, surgery, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapies target specific cancer cells and cause less damage to normal cells.
Gastric cancer has a poor prognosis. The disease can recur after treatment. The prognosis depends on the type of cancer, age, and other factors.
Treatment options
Fortunately, gastric cancer is treatable when diagnosed early. The symptoms can be subtle, but can sometimes progress to fatigue, nausea, and unintentional weight loss.
The best treatment option depends on the stage and condition of cancer and the patient. Surgery is the most common treatment. This type of surgery removes all or part of the stomach and may involve the removal of nearby lymph nodes.
Surgical treatments may also involve the use of chemotherapy. Combined treatments may be given to slow the growth of cancer and prevent its recurrence. Radiation therapy is another common treatment for gastric cancer. Using high-energy beams of X-rays, radiation therapy can be used before or after surgery to kill cancer cells that remain.
Treatment options for gastric cancer also include immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted drug therapy. These treatments aim to target specific chemical compounds within cancer cells. Some of the most common forms of targeted drug therapy are monoclonal antibodies. The use of monoclonal antibodies may allow for the use of chemotherapy drugs that are less toxic to healthy cells.
The use of chemotherapy drugs may be helpful in preventing cancer from returning after surgery. Chemotherapy drugs can also help patients live longer. Often, chemotherapy is given in a vein or by mouth. Some of the drugs can also be given by using an endoscope, which is inserted into the stomach and esophagus.
Targeted therapies for gastric cancer have gained a lot of attention. In recent years, the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, has shown promising results. The promise of these drugs is that they will help the immune system identify and attack cancer cells.
Targeted therapy is often used in combination with systemic chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that patients with stage 1 and stage 2 stomach cancers can be treated with chemotherapy before surgery.
Another promising treatment for advanced cancer is a procedure known as HIPEC. HIPEC involves using a machine to send high-energy beams of X-rays to a cancerous area. The beams kill the cancer cells and can also be used to relieve symptoms.
Palliative care
During 2009-2018, there was an increase in the utilization of palliative care for gastric cancer patients in the United States. This study used generalized multiple logistic regression models to examine the trends in palliative care consultation and procedures. It also explored the factors that influence the cost of hospitalization.
The results show that the number of hospitalized gastric cancer patients was reduced by 0.8%. This reduction was accompanied by a decrease in hospital charges. Total hospital charges were reduced by an average of $3875 USD. The study also found that the rate of palliative care increased by 9.3%.
In addition, the number of palliative procedures increased by 1.6%. Overall, a decrease in hospital costs was associated with an increase in the number of palliative procedures. Palliative procedures include endoscopic mucosal resection, which removes small cancers from the lining of the stomach. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are also used to treat stomach cancer. These treatments may shrink cancer before surgery, or relieve symptoms after surgery. If cancer spreads to the lymph nodes, systemic chemotherapy may be used to control symptoms and shrink cancer.
Palliative care is considered a basic part of cancer treatment. It helps to relieve symptoms and avoid unnecessary invasive procedures. The treatment may also prolong the life of the patient. It also allows the patient to remain comfortable.
The study evaluated the impact of sociodemographic factors and payer sources on palliative care utilization and palliative procedures. The factors included gender, race, and the number of diagnoses. The severity of the illness was also evaluated.
The results of the study were broadly consistent with the previous study. Patients were admitted to large hospitals and were predominantly male. The number of diagnoses was also a positive factor for palliative care utilization. However, in-hospital mortality was a negative factor for palliative care. The study found that hospitals located in the Midwest region were associated with reduced hospital charges.
Among 86,430 patients enrolled, the majority were male. More than half were white and had Medicare. The study also found that Hispanic patients received more palliative care.
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