What are the warning signs of stomach cancer?

Karen

As recently as 100 years ago, stomach (gastric) cancer was the most common type of cancer in the United States. However, the incidence of stomach cancer has declined dramatically. The reason for the drop is not completely known, but experts think it may be related to the decreased consumption of salted and smoked foods. Still, gastric cancer remains a major cause of death in other areas of the world, including Russia and Japan.

When a tumor grows in the stomach, the stomach expands. However, the stomach normally expands readily in response to large meals and gas, so a tumor may become quite large before the patient experiences any discomfort. In fact, about 80 percent of early gastric cancers cause no symptoms. Because stomach cancer is so difficult to detect in its early stages, when it is most treatable, the overall cure rate is only in the range of 10 percent.

When stomach cancer does produce symptoms, it most commonly causes pain in the upper part of the abdomen. This pain may be related to ulceration (sores) or obstruction (blockage) of the stomach. If obstruction occurs, then the patient may also have nausea and vomiting, especially after meals. Another possible warning sign of stomach cancer is bleeding, which occurs when the cancer ulcerates. The bleeding can be heavy, leading to bloody vomit or black, tarry stool, or can be more subtle, with small amounts of blood found in the stool. Another symptom of stomach cancer is a feeling of fullness early in a meal. This occurs because the growth of the cancer prevents the stomach from expanding fully during a meal.

If you experience any of the possible warning signs of stomach cancer, you should seek medical attention. The best test that can be done to evaluate for gastric cancer is an endoscopic examination of the stomach. In this procedure, the doctor passes a flexible scope down the throat to view the lining of the stomach.