The stomach is the second functional part of the gastrointestinal tract where digestion of masticated foods takes place with the help of stomach acid and enzymes. Stomach cancer or gastric cancer whose exact cause(s) is still not known, happened to be one of the major diseases that took millions of lives in the world.
Notwithstanding an overall decline in its incidence over some decades, stomach cancer still continues to be the fourth major types of
cancer and the second most life-threatening cause of cancer deaths in the world, courtesy journal of carcinogenesis published a few years ago.
Though stomach has five different sections and but the most prevalent type of stomach cancer is reported to occur in the area called gastroesophageal junction where the esophagus tube joins the stomach.
Stomach cancer occurs when cancer cells in the stomach outgrow generation of normal cells. Scientists are still not sure as to why healthy cells in the stomach turn into cancer cells but they have been able to pinpoint certain factors that will more likely lead to stomach cancer, such as
- Ulcers in the lining of the stomach from infection with a common bacteria called H.pylori,
- inflammation in the gut called gastritis,
- a type of persistent anemia called pernicious anemia, and
- a tumorous growth in the stomach called polyps, etc.
- persistent gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which leads to a problem called Barrett's esophagus, occurs in the tissue that lines the inside of the esophagus.
Treatments
Treatment of stomach cancer depends upon at what stage cancer ( stages 0 to IV ) is detected and how far it has affected the stomach tissue, size, and location of the growth of the polyps or if it has gone beyond the stomach to affect other organs. Awareness about proper diet and risk factors combined with advanced detection procedures and treatments have considerably reduced life risks from stomach cancer.
Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, and Surgeries are common treatment options along with laser therapy and stent placement. Radiation therapy involves using high energy rays to kill cancer cells. Laser therapy is used to perform the same using laser rays. Chemotherapy involves using high energy drugs to kill cancer cells. In many cases, chemotherapy is applied alongside radiation therapy or laser therapy.
Surgeries are performed to eliminate the cancer cells which spoil the healthy cells. There are two procedures of cancer surgeries - partial gastrectomy and total gastrectomy. Chemotherapy and surgery both can be applied in the treatment
