Stomach Cancer
The stomach forms part of the digestive system. The upper part is joined to the oesophagus and the lower part is joined to the beginning of the small bowel.
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When food passes down through the oesophagus and into the stomach, it is then mixed with gastric juices. This semi-solid food then passes into the small bowel where it is broken down further and nutrients are absorbed. The stomach starts the digestive process, but the rest of the digestive system can adapt well if the stomach is removed.
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is predominantly adenocarcinoma, like oesophageal cancer, developing from cancerous gland cells but in the inner lining of the stomach, or mucosa. These can start in different parts of the stomach which might affect treatment options.
Stomach cancer occurrence
Approximately one person in 10,000 will develop stomach cancer, totalling around 6,000 cases annually. Overall numbers of cases have remained relatively unchanged in recent decades, unlike oesophageal cancer which is showing a slow rise. In fact the number of people developing gastric cancers is slowly falling due to better health care of stomach-related bacterial complaints.
Causes and risk factors
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The cause of stomach cancer is not clearly known. There is some evidence that a combination of risk factors come together to cause this disease. These include:
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Gender – it is more common in men than in women.
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Age – the risk increases with age. The majority of people with this disease are over 55 years old.
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H pylori infection (Helicobacter pylori) – if this infection has been in the stomach over a long period of time, this may increase the risk of stomach cancer.
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Diet – eating a lot of salty, pickled foods and processed meats such as sausages and bacon can increase the risk.
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General – smoking; general medical conditions such as acid-reflux and Barrett's oesophagus; lower than normal levels of acid; family history and genes, all can contribute to the onset of this disease.
Symptoms and initial signs section
Many of the symptoms are commonplace and many people with the following conditions will not have cancer; however, it is important that they are checked by their GP.
Symptoms include persistent heartburn or indigestion; frequent burping; a bloated feeling after having a meal; loss of appetite; difficulty in swallowing; unexplained weight loss; nausea and vomiting; dark blood in the stools; tiredness due to anaemia; feeling very full after eating.
It is recommended that: (a) people aged over 40 years old who are concerned that they might have unexplained symptoms should see their GP and request an endoscopy test to check that cells in the oesophagus and stomach are healthy; (b) the endoscopy check-up is repeated every 2-3 years thereafter, or immediately if acute symptoms occur.
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Make an appointment with your GP as soon as you can. If your GP is reluctant to refer you to the hospital for an endoscopy, persist! Tell them that it’s what you want for peace of mind. It is also possible to ‘go privately’ should you feel it necessary.
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A GP may insist that you try other medications first or have tests for bacterial infections in the stomach lining. If symptoms are mild, these things need to be ruled out, but if swallowing is an issue, insist on having an endoscopy.
Survival rates
Survival figures quoted online are too often poorly explained and appear considerably worse than the reality for many individuals. OOSO recommends not looking around at different survival statistics because they can be unnecessarily upsetting. In our experience Cancer Research UK (CRUK) provides the most robust and accurate figures, with reasonably clear descriptions of the various risk factors involved, and variations between age groups and cancer types.
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You can visit CRUK’s webpage here: Survival for stomach cancer | Cancer Research UK
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It is important to remain positive because everyone’s circumstances are different, and treatments are becoming increasingly more effective year on year. According to CRUK, survival rates for stomach cancer has quadrupled over the last 40 years.
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Sadly, however, long-term overall survival rates beyond 5 years remains fairly low, with approximately 20% expected to survive (source CRUK and ONS, 2019), and 15% surviving beyond 10 years. It is important to note however, that these are ‘overall’ figures, and do not take into account the severity of the cancer, whether it has spread or not or the age and fitness of the patient. It is quite possible that an individual’s prospects are considerably brighter than one might initially think, so it is important to stay calm and listen to expert clinicians who will from experience advise the best course of action for each individual.
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It is important to note that from the outset, treatment plans in most cases are very effective at prolonging life expectancy.
Transmissibility
Stomach cancer is not hereditary nor infectious and CANNOT be passed from one person to another.