Gastric cancer, basically refers to as stomach cancer, is a malignant condition which about 95% of time arises from the lining of the stomach and is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is particularly prevalent in East Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of South America. In America, most cases of stomach cancer involve abnormal cell growth in the esophagus (gastroesophageal junction).
Several risk factors contribute to the development of (gc), including infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), dietary factors (such as high salt intake and low fruit and vegetable consumption), smoking and obesity, genetic predisposition, chronic gastritis, and those medical conditions that affect the stomach’s lining. The global burden of (gc) is significant, with millions of new cases diagnosed each year.
This disease often develops slowly over plenty years and can be asymptomatic in its early stages, even makes the early detection challenging. Gastric and bareast cancer is more prevalent in men than in women, with a higher incidence in individuals over the age of 50. The development of (gc) typically follows a sequence known as the Correa pathway, which begins with chronic inflammation (chronic gastritis) and progresses to atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and ultimately carcinoma.
Gastric cancer types
Gastric cancer can be classified into two main types: adenocarcinoma, which accounts for the majority of cases, and other rarer forms like lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs). Adenocarcinoma can be divided into two categories; intestinal type and diffuse type, based on histopathological characteristics.
– Intestinal Type: Intestinal type gastric cancer is associated with environmental factors such as diet and is characterized by glandular structures. gc is more aggressive and is characterized by poorly cohesive cells that invade the gastric wall.
– Diffuse Type: This form occurs more frequently in younger people and is characterized by a lack of cohesive tumor cell growth, leading to a more infiltrative pattern.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastric cancer can be vague and may initially present with nonspecific symptoms, making early diagnosis challenging. Common symptoms include:
Abdominal pain or discomfort, indigestion and bloating, nausea and vomiting, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), unexpected weight loss and loss of appetite, fatigue, anemia, and Early satiety (feeling full after eating small amounts).
Due to the nonspecific nature of these symptoms, many patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of this disease. By the progresses of gastric cancer these symptoms can become more severe, and patients may exhibit signs of advanced disease, including anemia and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Diagnosis
The gastric cancer diagnosing typically involves clinical evaluation, imaging studies, and endoscopic procedures. Combination of diagnostic methods include:
1- Endoscopy: A procedure where a flexible tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to visualize the stomach lining. Biopsies can be taken to histological examination, and analyze tissue for cancerous changes.
2- Imaging Studies: Making pictures help your medical team look for signs. Techniques such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scans, and electrical endoscopic mass characterizer (EEMC) are used to assess the extent of the (gc) and detect metastasis.
3- Blood Tests: Blood tests can provide clues about your health. While no specific blood test can definitively diagnose gastric cancer, tests may be conducted to evaluate overall health and rule out other conditions such as detect anemia.
gastric cancer Treatment Options
The treatment of gastric cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, the overall health of the patient, and the location of the tumor. Treatment modalities generally include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Surgery
Surgical intervention is the primary treatment for localized (gc). The types of the surgery may vary:
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Gastrectomy
This involves the partial or total removal of the stomach, which is the main surgery for (gc). There are two types for this surgery; subtotal (the removal of the part of the stomach), and total (the entire removal) gastrectomy.
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Lymphadenectomy
The removal of nearby lymph nodes is often performed to ensure that the cancer has not spread.
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Chemotherapy
Also called chemo, this systemic treatment involves the use of drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells or kill them.
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Radiation Therapy
Often used in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation therapy aims to kill cancer cells by powered beams of energy. It can also use for palliative care in advanced cases to relieve symptoms such as pain and bleeding.
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Targeted Therapy
This innovative approach uses medicines that attack specifically cancer cells and can cause them to die.
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Immunotherapy
This newer form of treatment helps the body’s immune system to fight cancer by using medicine. Immunotherapy drugs, pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have shown efficacy in specific cases of gastric cancer, they even target substances in cancer cells.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
A type of regional chemotherapy is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, also hot chemotherapy, which is studied to treat stomach cancer and may be offered at certain treatment centers. After the surgery is done, a chemotherapy drug, such as mitomycin, pumped directly into the peritoneal cavity for almost 2 hours, and rinses the abdomen before closing the incision.
Clinical trial
A clinical trial is a research study to help improve treatments for patients with cancer. Gastric cancer is not always preventable, but it is treatable if caught early. According to your cancer diagnosis, your doctor may recommend combination of treatments that can kill or shrink the cancer cells. Never hesitate to ask about treatment options, from their benefits to their risks. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer or the age of the patient, or the location of which the trial being done.
Conclusion
Due to the gastric cancer diagnosis and its aggressive nature, it remains a significant global health challenge. However, advances in understanding the disease, combining treatment modalities, and individualized care approaches are paving the way for improved patient outcomes. Awareness of risk factors and symptoms is crucial for timely intervention and better survival rates. Treatment options based on the stage of cancer and may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Ongoing research continues to improve the prognosis for patients diagnosed with this cancer.
Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases
https://mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stomach-cancer
https://cancer.gor/types/stomach
https://hospital-tech.com/product/eemc/
