Stomach Cancer Symptoms Female
Stomach cancer occurs twice in male than in female. In most cases, people are over the age of 60. Stomach cancer is less common today in the Western world. This has to do with the discovery and possible treatment of the Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
The stomach is an important part of our digestive tract. The inside of the stomach is covered with a thick mucosa layer. Glands in the stomach mucosa produce gastric juice. Gastric juice contains, among other things, hydrochloric acid, digestive enzymes and promotes digestion of food in the stomach. The hydrochloric acid kills the bacteria we ingest with our food. In addition, the hydrochloric acid activates the digestive enzymes. Below the mucosa layer is a layer of nerves and blood vessels.
The outside of the stomach consists of a thick muscle layer. These muscles ensure that food is crushed and mixed with gastric juice. At the transition from the esophagus to the stomach, there is a closing muscle. This opens when food from the esophagus enters the stomach and closes again. The closing muscle ensures that food from the stomach can not enter the esophagus. Food stays in the stomach for 3 hours. Then the food slurry goes through the stomach output (pylorus) into small portions to the duodenum.
Cause of stomach cancer
The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown.
Polyps
Stomach cancer can originate from a polyp. That is a widening of the stomach mucosa. Most poles are benign and always remain. However, some polyps can grow into gastric cancer. These are usually the adenomatous polyps that originate from gastrointestinal glandular tubes.
Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation
Stomach cancer may also develop as a result of chronic gastrointestinal inflammation. Chronic gastrointestinal inflammation can be caused by prolonged infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacterium. The chronic inflammation can eventually change into a permanent change in the gastric mucosa. This may cause a malignant tumor.
Risk factors for stomach cancer
There are a number of risk factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer. These risk factors are:
- Smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol
- A prolonged infection (or decades) with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria
- An unhealthy and unilateral diet; especially eating little fruit and vegetables can increase the risk of stomach cancer.
- An earlier stomach operation with part of the stomach removed.
- High consumption of smoked and salted foods seems to increase the risk of stomach cancer.
Heredity
In about 3-5% of all stomach cancer patients, heredity plays a role. In families with a hereditary form of stomach cancer, stomach cancer often occurs at a young age. For example, for the 40th year of life. There are several hereditary conditions that may include stomach cancer. Examples of this are the Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis. A hereditary condition in which stomach cancer is at the forefront is the hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.
Complaints and stomach cancer symptoms
The complaints are dependent on the tumor site. In the initial stage stomach cancer usually, produces little or no complaints.
Complaints that may occur in stomach cancer are:
- Reduced appetite and a disapproval for food with a strong smell, such as coffee, roast meat, and certain herbs.
- Inexplicable weight loss.
- Have a quick feeling after eating or the idea that food can not pass the stomach.
- Pain in the upper abdomen and/or near the sternum.
- Nausea
- Regular vomiting or vomiting (small pieces) of blood.
- Burning stomach acid and rises.
- Dizziness and fatigue. Anemia is caused by prolonged blood loss from the stomach. This blood loss is often difficult to notice. Sometimes blood loss from the stomach can be recognized by a tick black, various stool.
These complaints do not have to indicate stomach cancer. They may also have another cause. If you have one or more of these complaints and the complaints are not passed within two weeks, it is wise to go to your GP.
Treatment of stomach cancer
On the basis of the results of the studies, the doctor determines which treatment is possible. In addition, your age and condition play an important role. The doctor will discuss the treatment (s) in detail with you. Depending on the stage of the disease, different treatments are possible.
Curative Treatment
A curative treatment is a treatment aimed at the cure. The surgeon can remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue. In gastric cancer, an operation always forms part of a curative treatment. Sometimes an operation is combined with other (additional) treatments.
Palliative treatment
A palliative treatment is designed to reduce the disease as much as possible and to reduce the symptoms. A palliative treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation or a combination of these treatments.
An operation is the most common treatment for gastric cancer. It is sometimes not for surgery to say whether the operation will be curative. The doctor will see completely during removal during surgery or tumor and possible saturation.
Operation
During surgery, the surgeon will try to remove the tumor along with a portion of the surrounding tissue. During a curative treatment, the surgeon will also remove a number of lymph nodes. If the tumor has grown in the pancreas, liver or large intestine, the surgeon will sometimes remove some of these organs. There are different operating techniques. Depending on the place and size of the tumor, the following operations are possible:
An operation is a thorough treatment. It is therefore important that your condition is as good as possible. If you can not eat enough, you will receive a sore feed to prevent your nutritional condition deteriorating. This liquid nutrition comes through a thin tube (probe) directly into the stomach or small intestine. If feeding is not possible, you will receive food directly into the bloodstream via an infusion.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a treatment with anti-cancer drugs. These medicines are also called cytostatics. Chemotherapy inhibits cell division, which inhibits the growth of the tumor. Chemotherapy is a non-local treatment. That means the treatment is directed against cancer cells throughout your body. Therefore, chemotherapy is usually advised if you have (possible) sowing. Today, chemotherapy in gastric cancer is often given in combination with another treatment. For example before or after a curative operation or in combination with radiation. You can get the medication via an infusion or through tablets.
Targeted treatment
A targeted treatment is also called 'targeted therapy'. Targeted treatment takes place with medication via an infusion. This treatment can be used in particular when the tumor is close to the passage of the esophagus and the stomach and when there are sows present. In addition, targeted treatment only takes place if the tumor cells in the wall have a particular protein. The treatment focuses on this type of protein and causes the growth of the cancer cell to be inhibited. Targeted treatment is almost always combined with chemotherapy. Side effects of targeted drugs are generally limited.
Radiation
Radiation is a treatment where the tumor is irradiated with radioactive rays. Cells are damaged and die. The radiation is directed to the tumor as precisely as possible so that healthy cells are spared. Irradiation can be given in combination with surgery and chemotherapy. It can also be used as palliative treatment to reduce the complaints.
Placing a stent (food tube or endoprosthesis)
If the tumor is in the upper part of your stomach or just at the stomach outlet and an operation is not possible, the doctor may place a stent. This will be done by the doctor if you are having problems with passing food. This is a palliative treatment. A stent is a tube that is pushed into the stomach during a gastroscopy. The stent becomes aware of the tumor. The deployed stent adheres to the tumor. In this way, a stent ensures that food can pass again. A stent is placed under a rustle.
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