Stomach Cancer

The stomach is a muscular bag with a capacity of about 1 liter or quart. It lies along the digestive tract between the esophagus and the small intestine. The stomach serves as a reservoir for food eaten during meals and begins the process of digestion. Its inner walls are composed of glands that secrete acid and digestive enzymes.
The most common form of cancer that affects the stomach is adenocarcinoma, which arises in the glands of the innermost layer of the stomach. This tumor tends to spread through the wall of the stomach and from there into the adjoining organs (pancreas and spleen) and lymph nodes. It can spread through the bloodstream and lymph system to distant organs (metastasize).
The incidence and death rates for stomach cancer have decreased markedly during the past 60 years. In 1930, stomach cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men. Since then, the death rate in men from stomach cancer in the United States has dropped from 28 to 5 per 100,000 people.
In 1996, about 22,800 new cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed in the United States, and 14,000 Americans died of the disease. This form of cancer is 1.5-2.5 times more common in African American, Hispanic, and Native American people than in whites.
Stomach Cancer Symptoms
Early symptoms of stomach cancer tend to be vague and nonspecific. Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:
Mild upper abdominal discomfort associated with nausea and loss of appetite .
Difficulty swallowing because of a tumor involving the upper part of your stomach, near the esophagus .
Feeling of fullness after taking only a small amount of food.
Stomach Cancer Treatment
The treatment of stomach cancer depends on the results of tests and your overall health.
People with advanced heart and lung disease may not tolerate aggressive therapy.
In many cases, the stomach cancer may have advanced too far for any available treatment to work.
You will require surgery to be cured. Your stomach is removed entirely, and your esophagus is attached to your small intestine.
Surgery may relieve symptoms of obstruction. The upper end of your stomach is connected to your small bowel, bypassing the area of obstruction.
Companion treatment with either chemotherapy or radiation may improve your survival following surgery.
After your stomach has been removed, your doctor will monitor your disease with repeat CT scans of your abdomen and gastrointestinal endoscopy to make sure the cancer does not return.