The human stomach is a marvelous organ and the star component of the compound system of organs that makes up the gastrointestinal tract. It is through the stomach that the body begins the complex process of digestion, as well as the all-important processes of nutrient absorption and waste excretion.
The stomach itself can be said to be composed of several interconnected layers of muscle and other types of tissue. Gastric cancer, or stomach cancer as it is more commonly known, is a disease that develops when the cells that line the innermost layer of the stomach begin to grow uncontrollably into malignant tumors.
Stomach cancer is particularly insidious because of the ease with which it spreads into the deeper tissues of the stomach, out towards the outermost layers and, invariably, to other surrounding organs outside the stomach like the liver, spleen, pancreas.
Like most other types of cancer, when stomach cancer metastasizes, the patient’s quality of life, as well as their life expectancy, diminishes quite dramatically. Early detection of stomach tumors is, without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to improve the prognosis of affected patients. Therefore, it is crucial that we become familiar with all potential warning signs and symptoms of this disease
Here are the most common symptoms of stomach cancer:
1-Abdominal Pain
Perhaps the single most common symptom of stomach cancer is abdominal pain. However, it is crucial to understand that the vast majority of cancers that affect the gastrointestinal tract very rarely cause pain in their initial stages. Most tumors only cause mild discomfort at the beginning of the disease’s progression, and most of the time, this is misinterpreted as a sign of some other condition. Once a tumor has grown large enough that pain becomes apparent, it is usually a sign of advanced tumor growth.
Abdominal pain is a severe development and must be taken seriously; especially o when it is present in conjunction with the other symptoms listed below.
2-Ascites
Ascites is a condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, specifically within the peritoneal cavity. Although ascites is very often associated with liver disease, it is also frequently caused by kidney, heart, pancreatic, and stomach cancer. The exact mechanisms behind the development of this harmful build-up of fluid involve an increase in hydrostatic capillary pressure.
Patients suffering from ascites will invariably experience a variety of symptoms, the severity of which will depend on the amount of fluid accumulated. When fluid build-up is mild to moderate ascites may produce no symptoms at all. In more severe cases patients may retain up to 10 liters of fluid and experience a drastic decrease in urinary volume, edema, abdominal discomfort, back pain, fatigue, shortness of breath, dramatic alteration of the intestinal rhythm, and in some cases, fever.
3-Fullness
Patients with gastric tumors often report feeling abnormally full after consuming small meals. Ascites is likely involved in this increased sense of satiety as the built-up fluid increases intra-abdominal pressure, drastically reducing the stomach’s capacity. The tumor itself will also begin to impart this sensation as it grows in size and takes up more space within the thoracic cavity.
4-Heartburn
Heartburn, also known as acid indigestion, is a condition whose medical name is pyrosis. This common condition affects at least a quarter of the adult population around the world and can be characterized by an intense burning feeling that originates in the upper gastrointestinal tract and travels upwards towards the throat, mouth, and face. Pyrosis, which can be caused by gastroesophageal reflux, gastritis, and ulcers, is a common complication in patients with stomach cancer. Patients with this condition may expect to experience frequent coughing, sore throat, hoarseness, increased risk of sinus infections, chest pain, and other complications.
5-Lack of Appetite
Anorexia, which is the clinical term for a loss or lack of appetite, is commonly observed in patients suffering from stomach cancer. As is to be expected, any pathology that affects the gastrointestinal system has the potential to impact a patient’s stomach function severely. While anorexia by itself is more than likely not a sign of stomach cancer, its sudden appearance, especially in conjunction with other gastrointestinal symptoms, can be an early warning sign that something is amiss.
In patients with diagnosed cancer, especially in those undergoing treatment, it is vital that anorexia is treated promptly as it as the potential to severely diminish a patient’s ability to receive much-needed nutrients.
6-Vomiting
One of the most impactful side effects caused by tumors in the stomach is a spike in the body’s inflammatory response. The gastric mucosa, also known as the stomach lining, will invariably become increasingly and as a consequence, patients are likely to experience vomiting and nausea.
Patients with stomach cancer are very likely to find blood mixed with the vomit. In cases where bleeding is severe, the blood will pass into the lower gastrointestinal tract and be excreted in the patient’s feces. In these cases, the stools turn tarry and have a black coloration due to the fact that the blood is partially digested on its way out of the body.
Again, as with other symptoms on this list, vomiting is not necessarily a sign of cancer as a plethora of other conditions may cause it. However, it can serve as an early warning sign that should never be ignored, especially if it cannot be easily attributed to other more benign causes.
7-Diarrhea or Constipation
All conditions that affect the human gastrointestinal tract have the potential to affect the intestinal function adversely. Diarrhea and constipation are two ubiquitous signs that something is amiss with digestive function.
Diarrhea is a frequently observed symptom in cancer patients, especially when the tumor affects the gastrointestinal tract. The tumor itself may cause diarrhea and or it may be a side effect of oncological treatment. Patients with diarrhea will produce loose and watery fecal matter and frequently experience difficulty controlling the urge to defecate.
Constipation is another common affectation seen in patients with stomach cancer. Patients suffering from constipation will experience a pronounced difficulty defecating, as well as have increasingly less frequent bowel movements. Constipation can be characterized by the presence of a strong urge to defecate accompanied by cramps and an inability to pass stool.
For cancer patients, both diarrhea and constipation may get worse for a few weeks or a month and then improve for a time. In other cases, symptoms are present continuously.
8-Weight Loss
One of the most common and most dangerous complications observed in patients with stomach cancer is sudden and severe weight loss. Cancer-associated weight loss is one of the leading causes of death in a large number of cancer patients.
Cancer-associated weight loss may be caused by the tumor itself, pre-existing conditions, and/or the administered treatment. These factors can, by themselves or in conjunction with one another, cause a decreased absorption of nutrients, an increase in the patient’s metabolic rate, and a dramatic alteration to the metabolism of micronutrients.
Anti-cancer treatment often induces malnutrition, which may lead to weight loss, especially in cases in which several treatments are administered at the same time, such as post-surgery radiotherapy. Weight Loss in cancer patients will frequently cause a dramatic decrease in muscle mass that leads to loss of strength, mobility, and self-dependence. Furthermore, weight loss is closely associated with a diminished response to treatment and, consequently, a significantly worse prognosis and disease progression.
9-Anemia
Anemia is a dangerous condition that can be best described as having an abnormally low quantity of red blood cells. It is extremely common for cancer patients actively undergoing chemotherapy to present unusually low red blood cell count. In the case of stomach cancer, often there is an added risk for chronic hemorrhaging, which can progressively reduce a patient’s total blood volume, and thus decrease the availability of red blood cells and hemoglobin. A nutritional iron deficit, renal failure, and bone marrow infiltration are other common factors which can induce an anemic state in cancer patients.
10-Fatigue
Fatigue or asthenia is a symptom that very frequently deteriorates the quality of life of cancer patients. Worryingly, over 90 percent of cancer patients suffer from fatigue, which generates a progressive loss of their capacity to perform mundane activities.
CONCLUSION
Stomach cancer is an extremely debilitating disease which can be challenging to identify because it tends to develop slowly and often the first precancerous changes occur without generating any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are often attributed to other diseases. The symptoms of stomach cancer will vary and depend in no small degree on the exact location of the tumor.
Thankfully, the global incidence of stomach tumors has decreased in recent decades, thanks in part to a rise in early diagnosis and other factors such as improved diet and a more pronounced emphasis on nutrition.
For example, citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, and grapefruit can be especially beneficial in preventing stomach cancer and it is now recommended to consume at least 2 cups of fruits and vegetables every day. Limiting alcohol and tobacco consumption can also go a long way in preventing the appearance of this deadly disease.