Stomach cancer also called gastric cancer is characterized by a growth of cancerous cells within the lining of the stomach, this type of cancer is difficult to diagnose because there are no symptoms seen in the earlier stages.
Stomach cancer also called gastric cancer is characterized by a growth of cancerous cells within the lining of the stomach, this type of cancer is difficult to diagnose because there are no symptoms seen in the earlier stages. While stomach cancer is relatively rare compared to other types of cancer it is one of the biggest and dangerous because of the difficulty of diagnosing it. Since stomach cancer usually doesn’t cause any early symptoms, it often goes undiagnosed until after it spreads to other parts of the body which makes it more difficult to treat.
Like other cancer treatments, stomach cancer treatment also depends on the stages of cancer. Stomach cancer treatment includes Surgery that involves removal of either a part of the stomach or the whole stomach, An endoscope is used down the throat of the patient in surgery. Chemotherapy is the process of treatment through radiation. It is recommended if there is still lymph of cancer seen in the patient after the surgery, Targeted Therapy is one of the most widely used stomach cancer treatment options in top-notch hospitals in India and Radiation Therapy is the one in which a patient has to be treated with effective radiation which may be really impactful.
Though stomach cancer is hard to diagnose and treat. Research has found a few possible symptoms such as weight loss, low appetite, constant abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting with or without the disposal of blood, swollen abdomen, etc.
There are few tests are recommended before the stomach cancer treatment is undertaken. Then a one on one session with a doctor is conducted, and upper endoscopy is done in which a thin and flexible endoscope is inserted down the throat to the stomach. This test is performed by the doctors to get a sample of the infected area, another test that helps the doctor to know about the infected areas is Biopsy. After the test is completed, testing the sample is another major stage. Imaging tests are a part of the stomach cancer treatment as it helps to look inside your body to look at cancer and determine if it has spread. These tests can include an X-ray, CAT scan (CT scan), a Positron emission tomography scan (PET scan), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), Barium swallow, and/or endoscopic ultrasound.
Traditionally, stomach cancer is treated it is not specific as it varies from one person to another. The treatment can be one or more of the following –
Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the origin and stage of cancer. Another aspect that plays a role in treatment is age and overall health. The treatment is performed in stages depending upon the severity of the tumor. The cancer specialists will first treat the infected part either to keep it under control if a cure is not the ultimate option or conduct surgery when the chances for a cure. The specialists responsible for the treatment will later decide if other therapies like Chemotherapy and targeted therapy is to be performed or not.
Post stomach cancer surgery the responsibility increases. You will have to take off your dressings over the wounds which stay in for at least 10 days. Immediately after surgery, you might have painkillers through a drip into the bloodstream that you control and You get painkillers to take home once you leave. You are not allowed to eat or drink immediately after surgery and will take fluids through a drip. At last, the doctor advises the patient to maintain a healthy life and go through regular checkups.
Your chances of recovery are better if the diagnosis is made in the early stage. However, there is a risk of problems or complications after any operation. But one needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle to get through all the problems and changes one feels after the surgery. If the problem is a minor one needs to get treated as soon as possible so that it doesn’t grow and become life-threatening.
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