Gastric cancer is also known as “STOMACH CANCER”. To understand what Gastric Cancer is, we need to firstly know and understand all about the stomach. The stomach is one of the chief digestive organs in the gastro-intestinal system. It is located in the upper part of the abdomen.After food is taken in, chewed and swallowed in the mouth, it goes on to pass into the esophagus. The esophagus is basically a contractile muscular tube that joins the throat to the stomach and carries food to it. The point at which the esophagus joins the stomach is known as the Gastroesophageal (GE) junction. The stomach is an organ that can hold food and digest it partly by secreting its gastric juice. Then, the food and gastric juice mixture moves into the first part of the small intestine called the duodenum.
What are the parts of stomach ?
- Cardia: The portion of the stomach which is just below the esophagus.
- Fundus: The upper most portion of the stomach located just right of the cardia.
- Body (corpus): The main portion of the stomach
- Antrum: The lower part of the stomach in which food is mixed with gastric juice.
- Pylorus: The last final part of the stomach, which controls the emptying of the food bolus into the small intestine.
What are the layers of stomach ?
- The innermost layer is the mucosa of the stomach. In this layer, stomach acid and digestive enzymes are secreted. Most stomach cancers start in this layer.
- After that comes a supporting layer also called the submucosa.
- Outside of this is the muscularis propria, a thick layer of muscle that does the job of moving and mixing the stomach contents.
- The outermost 2 layers, the subserosa and the outermost serosa, enclose the stomach.
What are the functions of the stomach ?
The stomach’s function is to make hydrochloric acid and pepsin (a digestive enzyme), components of gastric juice that digest food. They make a protein called intrinsic factor, as well which the body needs to absorb vitamin B12 (also called extrinsic factor).
What is stomach cancer ?
Gastric Cancer is a cancer of the STOMACH. Stomach cancer should not however, be confused with other cancers that may crop up in the abdomen, like colon cancer (large intestinal cancer), liver cancer or pancreatic cancer because these cancers are different from each other. They have varied symptoms, outlooks and treatments.
What are the risk factors for stomach cancers ?
Factors increasing the risk of stomach cancer include the following.
- Helicobacter Pylori Infection: Many cases of gastric cancer occur after a previous chronic or ongoing infection with the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori.
- Medical conditions: Barrett’s oesophagus or pernicious anemia predispose to Gastric Cancer.
- Diet: An increased intake of either salty foods or preserved foods.
- Smoking: This is an established risk factor.
- Obesity: Obese people are more prone to Gastric Cancer than normal people.
- Genetic and familial risk factors: Some familial syndromes are associated with higher risk of Gastrointestinal Tumours.
However, a diet that is high in fresh fruit and vegetables, especially vitamin C prevents damage to the stomach lining, thus reducing the risk of stomach cancer.
What are the types of stomach cancers?
- Adenocarcinomas : Malignant Cancers that initiate in the glandular cells that form the inner lining of the stomach.
- Lymphomas : These arise in the lymph nodes of the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, or GISTs : These are rare stomach cancers. The tumour cells of GIST resemble muscle or nerve cells. These tumors can occur anywhere in the digestive tract, however a majority occur in the stomach.
- Carcinoid tumors are again rare tumours of the stomach. They are neuroendocrine tumours.
What are the clinical features of stomach cancers ?
The earlier tumours are asymptomatic. However, as they progress and grow, symptoms are severe indigestion, burning and acidity, burping and feeling full, loss of appetite and weight loss, stomach pain, nausea and difficulty in swallowing, anaemia and even blood in the stools.
How are stomach cancers diagnosed ?
A complete physical examination of the body is mandatory. The main methods for the diagnosis of Gastric Tumours are are:
- Endoscopy : this is where a long tube with a mounted tiny light and a camera is inserted into the stomach and small intestine to allow the clinician to check for any gastrointestinal abnormalities.
- Barium swallow or Barium meal : A white liquid (barium meal) has to be swallowed by the patient. This liquid is then picked up on X-ray imaging, and even soft tissues of the stomach can be seen on the x-rays clearly.
How are stomach cancers treated ?
Treatment of stomach cancer depends on a few primary factors such as the tumour’s size, location and extent, the disease stage, the age of the patient and his or her overall health. Current treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and also, palliative care.
Surgery is the only final curative therapy for stomach cancers. In advanced stages, chemotherapy is, in most cases, the only treatment option.
HER2-positive stomach cancer: The Human epidermal growth receptor 2 (HER2) is a protein, seen on the cellular surface which when present in unusual amounts (also called as HER2 overexpression) trigger rapid and aggressive tumour growth, as well as metastases. HER2 testing at diagnosis stomach cancer is critical for the right stomach cancer treatment. Treatment of HER2-positive stomach cancer patients is by giving Herceptin.HER2 status can be determined by either Immunohistochemistry (IHC) or by In-situ hybridization methods (FISH, CISH, SISH).
What is the care to be taken after the treatment of stomach cancer ?
Metastatic diagnostic workup and monitoring post-treatment has to include imaging and scanning of the limbs, thorax, chest, retroperitoneum, and abdomen with radiography, MRI or CT scans. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy may be required in cases wherein excision cannot be done completely.
How to find and reach cancer specialists for stomach cancer treatment ?
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Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
