Cell development in the stomach causes stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer. The stomach is located directly below the ribs in the upper middle part of the belly. It assists in food digestion. Although it may develop anywhere in the stomach, stomach cancer usually starts in the middle of the stomach.
The gastroesophageal junction, or the point where the esophagus, the long tube that delivers food down your throat, joins the stomach, is where stomach cancer most commonly begins. If you think you have stomach cancer, you should take into account the following symptoms: difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain, bloating after eating, feeling full after consuming small amounts of food, not feeling hungry when you should, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, unintentional weight loss, or excessive fatigue all the time.
While symptoms can help diagnose stomach cancer, early-stage stomach cancer is not always symptomatic. The top part of the belly may hurt if there are symptoms. They typically don't occur until the cancer has developed.
Still unknown, though, is the specific cause of stomach cancer. Experts believe that most stomach cancers begin with damage to the stomach's inner lining, which can occur from eating a lot of salty foods, having chronic acid reflux, or having an infection in the stomach. The cells' DNA is altered as a result of this. The instructions a cell gets from its DNA allow it to change quickly and repeatedly. There are many additional cells in the stomach as a result of the cell's ability to survive when healthy cells would normally die off as part of their regular lifetime. A large tumor may grow from the cells.
Furthermore, stomach cancer cells can enter and even destroy healthy human tissue. After some time, they could start to develop deeper into the stomach wall and spread throughout the body. The cancer will thereafter be referred to as metastasis.
There are several types of stomach cancer depending on where your cancer cells begin. Adenocarcinoma starts in cells that produce mucus, which is the most common type of stomach cancer. Almost all cancers that begin in the stomach are adenocarcinoma stomach cancers. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST) start in special nerve cells that are found in the wall of the stomach and other digestive organs. It is a type of soft tissue sarcoma. Carcinoid Tumors are cancers that start in the neuroendocrine cells. They are found in many places in the body that do some nerve cell functions and some of the work of cells that make hormones. It is a type of neuroendocrine tumor. Lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the immune system cells. The body’s immune system fights germs.
Lymphoma can sometimes start in the stomach if the body sends immune system cells to the stomach. This might happen if the body is trying to fight off an infection. Most of this type of cancer starts in the stomach and is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Numerous factors can raise the risk of stomach cancer, such as persistent issues with stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, a diet heavy in smoked and salty foods, low in fruits and vegetables, Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach, smoking, gastric swelling and irritation, growths of noncancerous cells in the stomach called polyps, and genetic family history.
If you think that you might have stomach cancer, it’s never a bad idea to go to a doctor. To prevent stomach cancer, ingest fruit and vegetables in your daily diet and eat less salty food. If you are a smoker, try to quit. Smoking not only increases the possibility of getting stomach cancer, but it also increases the possibility of other types of cancer. Additionally, if you have a family history of stomach cancer, you should tell your family about the situation so that they can provide information about it.
Health is the most important part of living. Everyone should try to protect themselves from getting cancer and other diseases. Without a healthy body, it is troublesome to be successful. If you think you might have stomach cancer, you should go to a doctor as soon as possible. The earlier to find out, the better the result would be.
*The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical diagnosis and treatment.
Sources
“Stomach Cancer.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,
19 June 2024,
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