Deep Concern For The Nearly Half A Million Veterans Who Have Prostate Cancer: Are They Getting The Proper Treatment?
Diagnostic Tests For Stomach Cancer
When a doctor suspects a person has stomach cancer, they will refer them to a specialist for tests. If the person receives a diagnosis, a doctor may refer them for further testing to determine the best course of treatment.
Medical professionals use many tests to detect or diagnose stomach cancer. Once a person receives a diagnosis, a doctor may refer them for additional tests to learn if their cancer has spread to other parts of the body and determine the best course of treatment.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), a biopsy is the only way to accurately diagnose stomach cancer. A 2019 study also suggests that multiple biopsies may increase diagnostic accuracy.
This article explains the types of tests that can help a doctor diagnose stomach cancer.
A physical exam is often one of the first exams a medical professional performs when trying to diagnose an ailment. For example, if a person complains of abdominal bloating, a doctor may feel the abdomen for lumps or tenderness.
A doctor will also ask a person about their medical history during a physical exam. They may ask about symptoms the person is experiencing, such as difficulty with eating or digestion.
A doctor may order blood tests that check for anemia, potentially resulting from internal bleeding in the stomach.
If a doctor suspects a problem with the stomach or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, they will likely refer the person to a gastroenterologist for further testing.
If a doctor suspects a person has stomach cancer, an upper endoscopy is one of the first tests they will perform. It involves inserting a thin, lighted tube through a person's mouth to look for abnormal areas in the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine.
If they detect abnormal areas, they take a tissue biopsy for further testing.
A 2021 Norweigian population-based study shows that doctors do not always detect stomach cancer using upper endoscopy. Of 730 people with gastric cancer, doctors failed to detect cancer 9.2% of the time. Researchers suggest that follow-up appointments and robust biopsy sampling of people with gastric ulcerations could reduce the rate of missed gastric cancers.
In some people, an endoscopy may help eliminate very early-stage stomach cancer. Endoscopy may also prevent or relieve symptoms and other complications from the disease without invasive surgery.
The only way to diagnose stomach cancer is by performing a biopsy. Doctors often biopsy tissue during an upper endoscopy. If the doctor identifies any abnormal areas in the stomach lining during the examination, they will pass an instrument down the endoscope to get a biopsy sample.
A pathologist then evaluates the tissue sample in a laboratory to diagnose the disease.
An abnormal result could indicate that a person has stomach cancer or another condition, such as a bacterial infection or inflammation.
The following imaging tests may also help diagnose stomach cancer:
Doctors may recommend these tests to look for suspected tumors and other abnormalities in a person's stomach and esophagus.
The following tests can help a doctor confirm the stage of cancer and determine an appropriate course of treatment:
Below, we answer some common questions about stomach cancer tests.
Does stomach cancer show up in blood tests?Blood tests cannot diagnose stomach cancer, but they can provide clues about a person's health and help a doctor make a diagnosis. A doctor might order blood tests to look for anemia, which might result from cancer bleeding into the stomach.
Can doctors detect stomach cancer early?Cancer screening involves looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. Stomach cancer accounts for only 1.5% of all new cancers diagnosed in the United States. And according to the ACS, there are no routine screening recommendations for stomach cancer.
Most people receive a diagnosis when they start to experience symptoms of the disease. However, symptoms tend to show up only once the cancer progresses.
Diagnosing stomach cancer involves different types of tests. The tools a doctor uses to diagnose stomach cancer depend on a person's symptoms, medical history, and previous test results.
Stomach cancers can grow very slowly, meaning a person may not have symptoms for many years. Additionally, many people with stomach cancer do not receive a diagnosis until the disease has already advanced.
While there is currently no screening recommendation, stomach cancer screening is an active area of cancer research. Scientists are studying other ways to detect stomach cancer before it causes symptoms to improve outcomes.
References
Six Warning Signs Of Stomach Cancer Revealed After Andrew Lloyd Webber Shares Son's 'critically Ill' Diagnosis
Six warning signs of stomach cancer revealed after Andrew Lloyd Webber shares son's 'critically ill' diagnosisLoss of appetite, feeling sick and having no energy are all warning signs of stomach cancer.
There are around 4,200 deaths due to tumours in the stomach in the UK every year, says Cancer Research, while there are about 11,130 in the US.
But symptoms of the cancer can be hard to spot, according to the NHS.
This week, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber shared the 'devastating' news that his eldest son Nicholas, 43, is 'critically ill' in hospital battling gastric cancer.
Following the 74-year-old's heartbreaking statement, MailOnline reveals the warning signs of stomach cancer.
As pictured above, having no energy, unintentionally losing weight, constant indigestion, difficulty swallowing, feeling sick and a lump at the top of your tummy are all warning signs and symptoms of stomach cancer
IndigestionIndigestion usually goes away on its own.
But if you find that it is long-lasting, it may be a sign of cancer, experts say.
It is often caused by acid from the stomach irritating the stomach lining or throat — called acid reflux.
This is common and not usually caused by cancer, with certain food and drink, stress or medication often acting as triggers.
But it can also be a sign the cancer has spread to the tissue lining your abdomen, which can cause a build up of fluid, says Cancer Research UK.
The NHS advises seeing your doctor if you have had heartburn most days for three weeks or more.
Having no energyFeeling tired all the time and getting breathless could be a warning sign of stomach cancer.
This is because fatigue can be down to low levels of red blood cells, according to Cancer Research.
Early and advanced stomach cancer can bleed into the stomach, which reduces the number of red blood cells in your blood over time.
This can make sufferers feel tired, weak and breathless because their blood is carrying less oxygen. It can also lead to passing blood in stool, which may appear darker and almost black.
A lack of red blood cells can also give you pale skin and heart palpitations, according to the NHS.
Weight lossLosing weight when you are not trying to is a common sign of cancer.
With stomach cancer, this could be due to several reasons including a loss of appetite and feeling full after eating just small amounts, according to Cancer Research.
This may be caused by a tumour in or around parts of the gastrointestinal tract, says the American Cancer Society.
Or it could be caused by cachexia — changes in the way the body uses proteins, carbohydrates and fat, leading to fat and muscle loss due to a severe illness.
In cancer patients, medics believe cachexia is caused by the chemicals that tumours release.
But unintentional weight loss is a common symptom of many different types of cancer.
And it can occur in the advanced stages of other illnesses, such as heart and kidney disease, as well as HIV.
Along with cancer, it can occur in the advanced stages of illness, such as heart and kidney disease, as well as HIV. Scientists don't fully understand the mechanisms behind cachexia
Difficulty swallowingStomach cancer can cause difficulty swallowing.
A tumour in or around the stomach could cause pain and a burning sensation when you swallow.
It can also make your food stick in your throat or chest, according to Cancer Research UK.
Difficulty swallowing can also lead to weight loss, simply because you are unable to eat enough.
Although other conditions such as acid reflux can cause these symptoms, experts urge people who have difficulty swallowing to get it checked by a doctor.
Feeling sickFeeling and being sick could be caused by many illnesses, but it is also a warning sign of stomach cancer.
The cancer can cause a blockage in the stomach making it hard to keep food down, says Cancer Research.
This blockage stops food from passing through your digestive system which can make you feel sick.
The cancer charity says that although there is rarely blood in the vomit, if it is red, it could be a sign of fresh bleeding.
But, if it is dark brown 'like used coffee grounds' it could mean the blood has been in the stomach for a while, experts say.
Stomach cancer can cause a blockage in the stomach making it hard to keep food down, says Cancer Research. The blockage stops food from passing through your digestive system which can make you feel sick
A lump at the top of your tummyA lump or pain at the top of your tummy is a sign of stomach cancer, the NHS warns.
This pain or lump could be a sign that the cancer has spread to the tissue that lines the abdomen.
The resultant build up of fluid in the lining of the abdomen — called ascites — can make you feel bloated or your clothes feel tighter.
The lump or swelling can make it uncomfortable to sit, move around and eat, which can lead to a loss of appetite.
What To Know About Metastatic Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, occurs when cells in the stomach mutate and grow too rapidly. When these cells spread beyond the stomach to other body parts, it is called metastatic stomach cancer.
A doctor may also refer to the condition as stage 4 stomach cancer.
For most of the 20th century, stomach cancer was a leading cause of cancer deaths. However, rates have since decreased. Now, stomach cancers amount to about 1.5% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States yearly.
Age, diet, and past stomach problems can affect the risk of developing stomach cancer.
This article examines metastatic stomach cancer symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and management.
Metastatic stomach cancer is cancer that starts in the stomach and spreads to other parts of the body. (Metastatic means the spread of cancerous cells to another part of the body.)
Under a microscope, the cancer cells in the new location still resemble those in the stomach.
A doctor classifies the type of cancer depending on where it begins. When stomach cancer spreads to other areas, such as the lungs, liver, or other organs or tissues, experts call it metastatic stomach cancer because it began in the stomach.
For example, healthcare professionals may refer to stomach cancer that has spread to the liver as "stomach cancer with liver metastasis."
There are several symptoms of metastatic stomach cancer, including:
Symptoms may depend on the area the cancer has spread to. For example, stomach cancer that has spread to the liver may cause liver problems, such as jaundice.
Cancer that has spread to the bones may cause bone pain and fractures.
Cancer that has spread to the bladder or bowels may cause toilet difficulties, such as blood in the urine, pain during urination or bowel movements, and blood in the stool.
A doctor will use a series of tests to diagnose metastatic stomach cancer.
These typically include a physical examination to feel for masses or anything unusual and an examination of a person's medical history, including family history.
They may also order:
There is no definitive way to prevent the spread of metastatic stomach cancer.
However, researchers are studying something called a pre-metastatic niche. This is how a primary tumor sends signals through the bloodstream. The signals affect cells in distant sites to create an environment that supports cancer cells when they arrive.
Some lifestyle factors can help the body fight stomach cancer. These include:
Several treatment options are available for stomach cancer. The most common include:
Doctors will decide the most appropriate treatment based on:
A cancer diagnosis can affect the emotional and mental health of a person and their loved ones.
Research from the American Association for Cancer Research indicates that stress from a diagnosis may also lead to biological changes that can affect cancer progression.
Certain activities may have benefits for those undergoing cancer treatment. These include:
Below are the answers to some frequently asked questions about metastatic stomach cancer.
How long can a person live with metastatic stomach cancer?There is little research on the outlook of metastatic stomach cancer. However, a person is likely to live less than 5 years after diagnosis.
According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival rate of metastatic stomach cancer is 6%. This means that 6% of people live longer than 5 years after diagnosis, compared with the overall population.
Is metastatic stomach cancer curable?Metastatic stomach cancers are very difficult to cure.
Treatment typically focuses on limiting cancer growth and managing symptoms rather than curing the condition.
A doctor may recommend surgery if there is a blockage in a person's intestines or stomach. However, this will typically be to ease symptoms rather than cure the cancer.
Stomach cancer starts in the cells of the stomach. It may then grow and spread to other parts of the body, which is called metastatic stomach cancer. Under a microscope, the cancer cells in the new location still resemble those in the stomach.
There is no certain way to help prevent the metastasis of cancer cells, though researchers are currently studying their growth and development.
Some lifestyle factors may help prevent the spread of cancer, including weight management and eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables.
Metastatic stomach cancer is very difficult to cure. However, doctors can often alleviate symptoms with surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatment options.
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