What is Gastric Cancer?
Gastric Cancer is also known as stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, and adenocarcinoma, and it affects the stomach, a major organ in the body’s digestive system. It is when a malignant tumour forms in the lining of the stomach. A malignant tumour is a tumour that interferes with the functioning of surrounding cells.
Cells are the basic unit of life for all living organisms, as well as the human body. Cells die as they grow old, and then new cells take their place. In some people, this process can go wrong, as cells will grow and divide rapidly in the tissues of the stomach unnecessarily. This buildup of cells is known as cancer.
Stomach cancer begins in the innermost layer of the stomach known as the mucosa. The mucosa is the layer of the stomach with glands that produce gastric juices to help break down food in the stomach. If not treated, the cancer can spread through the other three walls of the stomach known as the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa, and then to other organs such as the esophagus, intestines, liver, and/or pancreas.
This happens when the cancerous cells break away from the primary tumour and establish a secondary tumour in the body. This is known as metastasis. When the cancerous cells break away, they can enter blood vessels and connective tissues within the body. This abnormality can lead to death, so it should be treated sufficiently.
Stomach cancer affects mostly people over the age of 55, and it is rare for an individual under 40 to acquire it. It affects men twice as much as women, and people living in Japan, Chile, Korea, and Iceland the most.
There are no known causes of stomach cancer as of today, but there a quite a few risk factors that doctors believe play a role in the possibility of developing this cancer. Factors include; diseases and disorders, diet, environmental factors, infection, heredity, etc. For more information on the causes of stomach cancer, see here.
Symptoms for stomach cancer are vague, but they include indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, heartburn, and/or discomfort. Symptoms vary by person, and even if present, you do not necessarily have stomach cancer. For more information on symptoms and diagnosis, see here.
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and participation in regular clinical trials. The type of treatment varies per person. For more information on treatments, see here.
Cells are the basic unit of life for all living organisms, as well as the human body. Cells die as they grow old, and then new cells take their place. In some people, this process can go wrong, as cells will grow and divide rapidly in the tissues of the stomach unnecessarily. This buildup of cells is known as cancer.
Stomach cancer begins in the innermost layer of the stomach known as the mucosa. The mucosa is the layer of the stomach with glands that produce gastric juices to help break down food in the stomach. If not treated, the cancer can spread through the other three walls of the stomach known as the submucosa, muscularis, and serosa, and then to other organs such as the esophagus, intestines, liver, and/or pancreas.
This happens when the cancerous cells break away from the primary tumour and establish a secondary tumour in the body. This is known as metastasis. When the cancerous cells break away, they can enter blood vessels and connective tissues within the body. This abnormality can lead to death, so it should be treated sufficiently.
Stomach cancer affects mostly people over the age of 55, and it is rare for an individual under 40 to acquire it. It affects men twice as much as women, and people living in Japan, Chile, Korea, and Iceland the most.
There are no known causes of stomach cancer as of today, but there a quite a few risk factors that doctors believe play a role in the possibility of developing this cancer. Factors include; diseases and disorders, diet, environmental factors, infection, heredity, etc. For more information on the causes of stomach cancer, see here.
Symptoms for stomach cancer are vague, but they include indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, heartburn, and/or discomfort. Symptoms vary by person, and even if present, you do not necessarily have stomach cancer. For more information on symptoms and diagnosis, see here.
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, biological therapy, and participation in regular clinical trials. The type of treatment varies per person. For more information on treatments, see here.
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