Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is cancer that starts in any part of your stomach or stomach wall. It happens when your stomach cells start to abnormally grow out of control.
Most stomach cancers develop in the lining of the stomach. There are several different forms of stomach cancer.
The cause of stomach cancer is not known. Anyone can get it. There are, however, risk factors that mean you are more likely to get stomach cancer but having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will definitely get it.
Stomach cancer risk factors include:
Early-stage stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms. As it progresses, a variety of symptoms can develop.
Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include.
Often these symptoms are the cause of something else such as ulcers or a viral infection. However, if you experience stomach cancer symptoms and you are worried or they do not go away or get worse then you should see your GP or a cancer specialist.
Usually, stomach cancer develops slowly over the course of many years.
Stomach cancer is not often diagnosed in the early stages as most people typically don’t show symptoms then. If you have symptoms that might be from stomach cancer, you should see your GP who will examine you and might refer you for tests or to a specialist.
Gastroscopy - is used to diagnose stomach cancer. It uses a long flexible tube (endoscope) with a tiny camera and light on the end to look inside your stomach. The procedure checks your stomach for growths or abnormal-looking areas. A biopsy sample of any abnormal-looking tissue may be collected and sent to a laboratory to check for cancer.
If you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, you will need more tests to help your doctors to find out the size of your cancer and how far it has spread (called the stage).
Tests to determine stomach cancer size and spread include:
Your doctors will use the test results to advise on the best treatment for you. They will consider where your cancer is in your stomach, its stage and grade, the cancer type, and your general health.
Treatments for stomach cancer include:
Surgery to remove your stomach cancer – usually used. It can be performed using:
Surgery to relieve symptoms of advanced stomach cancer include:
Radiotherapy - uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. Radiotherapy may be combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiotherapy) to help stop cancer from coming back or on its own to help control and improve advanced cancer symptoms.
Chemotherapy - uses anti-cancer drugs in your bloodstream to destroy cancer cells. You may have chemotherapy for stomach cancer:
Stomach cancer can be cured if it is in its early stages. Unfortunately, though, diagnosis often happens in later stages once symptoms begin. The outlook for stomach cancer depends on the stage of cancer.
Stomach cancer is cancer that starts in your stomach. In the UK, it is not a very common cancer.
Here at Ramsay Health Care UK, we have a team of expert cancer specialists on hand to advise, diagnose, and treat stomach cancer.
We understand the anxiety that stomach cancer symptoms can bring and the importance of early testing to bring peace of mind and to help diagnose symptoms early for a better treatment outcome.
We offer convenient appointments to talk through the benefits and risks of all tests and treatments so that you are fully informed and understanding of all implications.
Paul Foster MP, the newly elected Member of Parliament for South Ribble, and former Leader of South Ribble Council, visited Ramsay Health Care UK’s Buckshaw Hospital today to see people caring for people in action.
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