From the Guidelines
Stomach cancer often presents with subtle signs that can be easily overlooked, including dysphagia, asthenia, indigestion, vomiting, weight loss, early satiety, and/or iron deficiency anemia, as noted in the most recent study 1. These symptoms can be mistaken for less serious conditions, but it's essential to seek medical attention if you experience persistent digestive symptoms, especially if you're over 55, have a family history of stomach cancer, or have risk factors like H. pylori infection, smoking, or a diet high in salted or smoked foods. Some key signs of stomach cancer to look out for include:
- Persistent indigestion or feeling full after small meals
- Heartburn
- Nausea or vomiting (sometimes with blood)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Fatigue due to anemia from slow, chronic bleeding
- Black tarry stools indicating digested blood
- A feeling of bloating after eating As the disease progresses, you may develop jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes) or ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen) 1. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes, so don't hesitate to consult a doctor if you notice these warning signs, particularly if they persist for more than two weeks 1. It's also important to note that endoscopic examination and forceps biopsies are the gold standard method for diagnosing gastric cancer, and multiple biopsies should be carried out to provide adequately sized material for histological and molecular interpretation 1.
From the Research
Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
There are no direct research papers provided to answer the question about the signs of stomach cancer. However, the studies provided do discuss the diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer.
Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer
- The detection of early gastric cancer (EGC) is endoscopically challenging and requires high-quality examination 2.
- Newer endoscopic imaging techniques, such as high-definition endoscopy with image enhancement techniques, are becoming commonly available to aid in the detection of gastric premalignant lesions and EGC 2.
- Artificial intelligence systems can aid in the detection of EGC and help determine the depth of invasion 2.
Treatment of Gastric Cancer
- Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy or metastasectomy can prolong survival time compared to chemotherapy alone 3.
- Chemotherapy combined with gastrectomy plus metastasectomy and/or radiation therapy can also prolong survival time 3.
- Endoscopic resection techniques, such as endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic submucosal dissection, can be used to treat EGC in selected cases 2.
- Surgery plays a critical role in the management of all stages of gastric cancer, and novel techniques, such as sentinel lymph node biopsy, may allow for greater use of stomach-sparing procedures 4.