Stomach Cancer

Unfortunately, stomach cancer does not start to show its symptoms until it has progressed to an advanced stage.

Symptoms of stomach cancer:

One of the early symptoms of stomach cancer is internal bleeding which would not be detected unless you check the stool for blood. Another symptom could be fatigue if enough healthy red blood cells are lost through bleeding. Some of the more advanced symptoms would be abdominal discomfort, black, tarry stools, vomiting blood, weakness, or a full feeling in your stomach when eating less than you normally do.

Smoking, although not the only cause of stomach cancer, will increase your chance of developing this debilitating and often terminal disease. Any cancer that is associated with the esophagus and/or stomach carries an increased risk of development when the patient smokes.

Tests for stomach cancer:

If a doctor suspects you may have stomach cancer, there are several tests you may undergo. The doctor may call for an upper endoscopy that will allow your doctor to view your upper GI, or gastrointestinal tract. An x-ray does not allow for this type of evaluation, so it's rarely used. If there is any tissue that the doctor thinks is in question, a small sample can be removed for a biopsy.

Another test is a stomach x-ray with the use of barium. This is a series of tests that include swallowing barium, which is a thick liquid. This will temporarily coat your stomach and through an x-ray the doctor can evaluate how the barium flows through your GI tract. If you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, the doctor will perform further test like an endoscopic ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan. This will aid in developing the best treatment plan.

After the doctor has performed all the necessary steps, evaluated the location of the cancer, stage, and current health condition of the patient, the next step is to decide on treatment. The goal is to remove the cancer if possible; however, if that is not possible, the next objective would be to prevent the cancer from spreading. For some, the only option for treatment would aim to make the patient more comfortable, that is, treating the symptoms.

Treatment for stomach cancer:

Surgery is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. Other treatment plans could include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and drug therapy. It is very important for your doctor to completely understand your condition to be able to choose your best treatment strategy.

Diagnosed with stomach cancer:

If you have been diagnosed with stomach cancer and you're a smoker or used to smoke, you'll need to evaluate your legal as well as your medical options. Recent court rulings have significantly affected your options in regards to holding tobacco companies accountable for marketing a dangerous, disease-causing and addictive product. Contact an attorney to understand what legal options you may have.