Do you know that more than 7 out of 100,000 people suffer from stomach
cancer and three out of those seven dies due to it? Stomach cancer is
one of the most common kinds of cancer and its occurrence is increasing
at a rapid rate. Every year there is a huge rise of 1.5% in people
suffering from stomach cancer. While 1.8% of total people suffering from
stomach cancer die every year. According to the best gastro
oncology surgeon in Mumbai, treatment of stomach cancer is very
tricky as it is the kind of cancer that shows different symptoms in men
and women, it can mimic many other diseases and it is difficult to
diagnose at an early stage. Since it is such a complex kind of cancer,
it is very important to know more and spread awareness about it to save
many lives around us.
What is Stomach Cancer?
Before I write about stomach cancer let us look at where the stomach is
and what does it do? The stomach is a small s-shaped organ located just
below the esophagus or food pipe responsible for transferring food from
mouth to stomach. In the stomach, the food eaten by us is digested using
digestive juices and enzymes. The food digested in the stomach further
moves down to the small intestine through the gut for the remaining
digestion and absorption of food.
According to the best gastric cancer surgeon in Mumbai, when
healthy cells of the stomach are replaced by cancerous cells growing
uncontrollably in the stomach lining, it results in stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer develops slowly and is very difficult to be diagnosed at
an early stage. Over the period these cancer cells accumulate to form a
tumor and it starts penetrating several layers of the stomach.
Types of Stomach Cancer
Gastric cancer is a broad category enveloping various kinds of stomach
cancer inside it. Some of the most common types of stomach cancers are:
- 1. Adenocarcinoma: It is one of the most common types of
stomach cancer. According to experts in gastric
cancer treatment in Mumbai, 90% of stomach cancer cases
coming to them suffer from adenocarcinoma. It is cancer in the
innermost lining of the stomach.
- 2. Lymphoma: Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system. It is
not very common and accounts for 4% of people suffering from stomach
cancer. It can either start from the stomach and then spread to
other parts like lymph nodes, bone marrow, etc. or it can start in
the blood, lymph nodes, and bone marrow and then eventually spread
to the stomach.
- 3. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour: It is a tumor that grows
rapidly in the connective tissues of the stomach. It is a soft
tissue sarcoma.
- 4. Neuroendocrine cancer: This kind of cancer occurs in the
endocrine and nervous systems of the intestine. When cancer cell
uncontrollably grows and replace healthy cells of the intestine's
endocrine and nervous system, it leads to neuroendocrine cancer.
Who are at high risk of Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer can happen to anyone. Still, studies over the years have
brought up a pattern demarcating people who are at higher risk of
stomach cancer.
- The first factor in the high risk of stomach cancer is age. It
usually occurs in people above 55 years. It is most common in people
in their 60’s and 70’s. So if you are at that age or reaching it, it
is better to get yourself checked, take necessary precautions, and
do the required changes in your lifestyle.
- According to gastric cancer surgeons in Mumbai, gender is also an
important factor. Males are at higher risk of stomach cancer than
females. Studies have shown that 1 in 95 males suffer from stomach
cancer, while this number is 1 in 154 females.
- According to the best gastro oncology surgeon in Mumbai, having a
family history of stomach cancer also puts you at a high risk of
stomach cancer. So, if you are having a family history, it is better
to take all the necessary precautions, follow a healthy lifestyle,
and get yourself checked from time to time. Stomach cancers can be
treated best when detected at an early stage.
- If you have been through stomach surgery in the past, then you can
lie under the high-risk category of stomach cancer.
Cancer
Surgery Clinic is one of the best facilities for gastric
cancer treatment in Mumbai. Dr. Ganesh Nagarajan and his team
are committed to giving you a personalized treatment plan catering to
your personal and socio-economic conditions. It has a state-of-the-art
infrastructure offering you treatment options for the entire gamut of
hepatobiliary cancer and gastrointestinal cancer. At Cancer Surgery
Clinic we understand that cancer does just not affect the physical and
mental condition of the patient but also has a financial and emotional
impact on the family. Empowerment, education, and counseling of both the
patient and the family can help them in fighting the battle better.