Stomach Cancer Symptoms: What To Know About Them

Stomach Cancer Symptoms are, to use a boxing analogy, pound for pound, probably the most uncomfortable to bear among the cancers that afflict mankind. The symptoms go as far as mimicking the more unpleasant aspects of chemotherapy.

The first thing to look out for, and the easiest to ignore, is loss of appetite. We have all experienced some form of temporary aversion to food, which, thankfully, rights itself after a couple of days. Should it persist, however, it could well be a pointer to something more sinister.

Among the Stomach Cancer symptoms that are not so easily brushed aside is pain or persistent discomfort in the stomach area. Food-related stomach upsets will normally completely disappear after 48 hours. Any aches lingering beyond this period call for immediate medical attention. One might be tempted to ascribe the pain to ulcers, as many people do, but one should train oneself to be on the lookout for other imbalances in the body.

Feeling bloated is normally the undesired effect of overindulgence. However should one get this feeling after having a small meal, one should take note and look out for other corroborative symptoms of Stomach Cancer.

Vomiting blood or passing blood in the stool will drive most people to action (and rightly so) as this is a clear indication that all is not well in the tummy. These may be indications that one has Stomach Cancer.

Difficulty in swallowing (known as dysphagia), by itself, is unlikely to trigger any alarm bells beyond the discomfort itself. Taken in tandem with the other symptoms it calls for an urgent visit to the doctor as it also associated with this disease.

Dyspepsia or persistent indigestion does not always indicate the presence of Stomach Cancer but to allay one’s fears a visit to the doctor is recommended.

With the body taking a battering from all the symptoms described a feeling of lassitude is inevitable.

Other associated Stomach Cancer symptoms may overlap with indicators of other ailments such as colitis, leukemia or stomach ulcers. Or it could simply be a transient virus. This is why early screening is always the first and most crucial step in identifying the illness and commencing treatment immediately.

Cancer care normally calls for a multidisciplinary team to put together a treatment plan. A Stomach Cancer Patient, for instance, might need the services of a medical oncologist who, as the name suggests, deals with medication, a radiation oncologist (for radiation therapy), a gastroenterologist, whose area of specialization is the gastrointestinal tract, and of course a surgeon (or surgical oncologist) who uses surgery to treat cancer.

In the early stages of the cancer endoscopic mucosal resection is sometimes recommended. This is simply a non-surgical procedure and involves the removal of the tumour with an endoscope.

Where the cancer is fairly advanced certain treatments, including, Integrative Treatment may be administered before surgery in an effort to shrink the cancer.

Partial Gastrectomy involves the removal of part of the stomach. The remaining part of the stomach is connected to the oesophagus or small intestine.

Gastrectomy entails the removal of the entire stomach. The surgeon will attach the oesophagus directly to the small intestine and the quality of life for the patient is severely compromised. A patient may experience the ‘dumping syndrome’ where food enters the small intestine too fast. This precipitates nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and cramps. The patient eventually learns what amounts of food to eat to maintain relative comfort. This will necessitate the consumption of many small meals throughout the day.

For patients who’ve already had partial Gastrectomy done and need more treatment, Verita Life offers a comprehensive Integrative Treatment package to help treat Stomach Cancer. Please contact us today if you have any questions.