Cancer is one of the scariest medical conditions anyone could be afflicted by. Cancer is essentially the uncontrolled growth of cells that leads to tumor formation. Tumors are the lumps of excess growth that are the sign of a malignant condition.Continue reading to learn what are causes and what are the symptoms of stomach cancer
While cancer can be caused in any part of the body, one of the specific types of cancer afflicts the stomach region. Stomach cancer is also referred to as gastric cancer as it affects the gastro-intestinal tract. It is a rather malevolent type of cancer as it evades early detection and is often discovered in its virulent and excessively dangerous form.
Tumor Types:
There are two major types of tumors:
a) Benevolent tumors: Benevolent tumors are a result of excessive growth of cells which are non carcinogenic in nature. These are mostly localized in nature and do not infect the cells around them. Such tumors can be removed by surgery and do not pose a threat to life.
b) Malignant tumors: Malignant tumors are life threatening cancerous tumors. Such tumors do invade other cells, spread fast and if untreated can cause very rapid deterioration and death. Malignant tumors can be removed surgically, if detected in time, but there do remain chances of resurgence of such cancerous cells. The main concern about malignant tumor cells is that these have the capacity of entering the blood stream and infecting parts of the body other than the part from which they originated.
Causes of Stomach Cancer:
- Certain virulent bacteria that can invade the intestinal tract and lead to inflammation and culminate in gastric cancer. The H.pylori bacterium is one such malevolent bacterium that causes stomach cancer.
- A diet rich in oily, pickled and smoked food may lead to stomach cancer. Excessive consumption of red meat has also been linked to gastric cancer.
- Smoking and excessive alcohol intake leads to stomach cancer
- Hereditary reasons which are often unexplained and are empirical in nature are observed to contribute to stomach cancer
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Burning sensation or acidity in the gastric region
- Sudden and inexplicable loss of appetite.
- Weight loss which cannot be pinned down to any known cause
- Passing blood in stool
Preventive Measures:
- In case of chronic pain in stomach approach doctor
- Watch out for other symptoms of gastric cancer and take recourse to medical attention
- Take red meat in moderation
- Increase intake of vegetables and drink adequate water
Treatment: Treatment of cancer can take on various forms. In some forms, radiation maybe used to locally target the cancer cells and eliminate them. In other cases, chemotherapy may be used to administer drugs through the blood stream and attack the cancerous cells. In any case, cancer treatment could be painful and lead to side effects.
Stomach or any other form of cancer is indeed a scourge for humanity. While one should hope and pray that one is not infected with it, it is always wise to take precautions and be on the guard lest stomach cancer affect the body.