Four frequently asked questions about stomach cancer

Stomach cancer develops slowly over the years. The pre-cancerous changes often occur in the inner lining of the stomach before a stomach cancer is developed. There are rarely any early symptoms of stomach cancer; hence, it often goes undetected.

Stomach cancer is also known as gastric cancer and is different from the other types of cancer that occur in the abdomen like cancer of the liver, colon, small intestines, or pancreas.

What are the different types of stomach cancers?

There are four major types of stomach cancers. They are-

• Adenocarcinoma – About 90 to 95% of the cancers that occur in the stomach are adenocarcinomas. A stomach cancer is usually adenocarcinoma most of the time. This type of stomach cancer is developed from the cells of the innermost lining of the stomach.
• Lymphoma- Lymphoma is the cancer of the immune system tissue and in some cases, may be found in the falls of the stomach. The outlook and the treatment depend on the type of lymphoma.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)- This is a rare type of tumor that starts in the wall of the stomach known as interstitial cells of Cajal. Some of these tumors are non-cancerous and some may be cancerous.
• Carcinoid tumor- The tumor is formed in the hormone-making cells of the stomach. Most of the time, the tumor does not spread to other organs.

What are the risk factors for metastatic stomach cancer?

The risk factors for developing metastatic stomach cancer are-

• Age – Usually, stomach cancer is observed among people who are older than 55. Most people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in their 60s and 70s.
• Gender – It has been observed that men are at more risk of developing stomach cancer than women. Statistically, they have 50% more chances of developing stomach cancer.
• Family history- It has been observed that a person who has a family history of stomach cancer is at a higher risk than the ones who don’t. Also, certain inherited genetic disorders increase the risk of metastatic stomach cancer as well.
• Obesity – The risk of developing stomach cancer increases when a person has an excess body weight.

What are the treatments for metastatic stomach cancer?

Metastatic stomach cancer is when cancer has spread to other parts of the body and it cannot be cured in most cases.

• In metastatic stomach cancer, the primary goal of treatment is to increase the lifespan of the patient and to relieve the symptoms of metastatic stomach cancer.
• The treatment for metastatic stomach cancer is usually considered palliative therapy which usually consists of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Palliative therapy can improve both the patient’s length and the quality of life.
• Surgery is rarely used as a metastatic stomach cancer treatment option.

How can one prevent metastatic stomach cancer?

While there are some risk factors that cannot be controlled, there are many that can be controlled. Following a certain lifestyle helps in the prevention of metastatic stomach cancer. Some of the key prevention methods one can use are-

• Maintaining a healthy body weight- Obesity has been linked to metastatic stomach cancer as one of the risk factors. Having a healthy body weight prevents metastatic stomach cancer.
• Dietary changes – People who consume food that contains a high amount of salt and preservatives are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with metastatic stomach cancer. Rather, it is recommended to follow a diet that is more plant-based and contains lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Avoiding the use of tobacco- Tobacco increases the risk of cancers in the proximal stomach (the stomach area which is near the esophagus). Tobacco not only increases the risk of developing metastatic stomach cancer, but also other types of cancer.

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