Stomach Cancer
Your stomach is a hollow organ that can be found under your ribs. It is a main part of your digestive system as all the food you eat will pass through your stomach. Food in your stomach will be liquid before it is sent into your small intestines. Your stomach actually has five layers, or linings and the first one called the mucosa, is where most stomach cancers will begin. Stomach cancer starts in the cells of this lining and is then called a tumor when the buildup of extra cells causes a mass. Symptoms of stomach cancer can begin when the cancer grows and then shows its self with a pain in the stomach area. You could also notice weight loss with nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms of stomach cancer are a difficulty in swallowing and feeling like you are bloated after eating just a small meal. Some sufferers will have blood in their vomit or might have blood in their stool.
But these symptoms can also be a sign of an ulcer as it will show the same symptoms. To be safe, talk to your doctor to find the real cause and get treatment as soon as possible. If you have any of these symptoms, your doctor can do tests to find out the cause or you can be referred to a doctor who specializes in this area.
You will be asked about any family history as well as your personal medical history. Your doctor will check you abdomen for swelling or fluid. He might also numb your throat and insert an endoscope to look into your stomach. This tube goes down your throat into your stomach and some medicine to help you relax will probably be given. This scope has a tool on it that can be used to get a sample of the tissue in your stomach, called a biopsy. This tissue will be checked by a pathologist under a microscope. This is the only sure way of knowing if there are any cancer cells in your stomach. If cancer cells do show up, the next will be to find out what stage the cancer is in. The stage will tell your doctor how deeply into the stomach lining the cancer has grown. He can also tell if the cancer has spread and if so, where did it spread to. Generally it will be the lymph nodes, liver, pancreas or intestine since they are the nearby organs. Added blood tests will be done to check these areas.
