Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is in the relatively aggressive progressing cancer group. Diagnosis is usually delayed because it gives symptoms that can be seen in many different diseases such as anorexia, weight loss and anemia. It is more common in men and in individuals over 60 years of age. Genetic, environmental and nutritional factors contribute to its formation. Those with first-degree relatives who have gastric cancer have an increased risk. The parasite called Helicobacter pylori, which settles in our stomach with the food we eat, can cause gastritis and ulcers, as well as causing stomach cancer by changing the structure of the inner wall of the stomach. There are studies indicating that eating fresh vegetables and fruits reduces the risk of gastric cancer. In addition, diseases such as gastritis and stomach ulcers do not turn into cancer. Factors that increase the risk of gastric cancer are;

• Gastric polyps,
• Parasite Helicobacter pylori,
• Highly salty, pickled or smoked foods,
• Presence of gastric cancer in a first degree relative,
• Metal and plastic industry labor,
• Smoking

How Is Gastric Cancer Diagnosed?

Weight loss is particularly important. Patients usually admit to the hospital because of having no appetite and having lost 8-10 kilos in the last month. Anemia may occur due to bleeding from the tumor. In the presence of a gastric tumor, the complaints that can be seen in the patient are generally;

• Weight loss,
• Anemia,
• Early satiety and feeling of fullness in the stomach,
• Feeling stuck while swallowing food,
• Midline cramping pain just below the rib cage.

These complaints are not unique to gastric cancer. It can also be seen in the presence of advanced gastritis or stomach ulcers.However, when patients with these complaints for a long time consult a physician, unfortunately the disease is usually in advanced form.Early diagnosis is very important in stomach cancer as well as in all other cancers. The diagnosis of the disease is made by a procedure called gastroscopy, where the esophagus, stomach and duodenum are examined with a camera. A biopsy material can also be obtained during the procedure. When gastric cancer is diagnosed after biopsy, the extent of the disease in the body and stomach wall is determined by imaging methods such as tomography and / or positron emission tomography (PET). In this way, the stage of the gastric cancer is understood and the treatment planning is made according to this staging.

In Japan, where gastric cancer is common due to the diet, people are screened within a certain program, so that gastric cancer can be diagnosed at a very early stage. As with most cancers, early diagnosis in gastric cancer extends the life span significantly. Therefore, in the presence of the aforementioned complaints, referring to a physician without delay may be life-saving.

How is it treated?

The stage at which the cancer diagnosis is made is very important. Gastric cancer, the diagnosis of which is made in the first stage and has not spread to the surrounding lymph nodes, can even be treated endoscopically in suitable patients. The treatment of more advanced gastric cancer such as stage 2 and stage 3 is surgery. Depending on the location of the tumor in the stomach, all or part of the stomach can be removed. By connecting the remaining part of the patient’s esophagus or stomach to the small intestine, the continuity of the digestive system is ensured. The lymph nodes where tumor cells may have spread during the surgery must also be cleaned. Treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy only provide support. Gastric cancer surgery can be performed as open surgery, with laparoscopy or robotic surgery. In stage 4 gastric cancer, where the tumor metastasized to distant organs, the benefit from surgery is limited. At this stage, surgical treatments, called palliative, that increase the comfort of life of the patient are applied.

Remember that the most important benefit in the treatment is provided by consulting a physician without wasting time in the presence of stomach complaints and starting treatment early.