| We all hope that our reflux problems are no more than | | | | follow. Unfortunately, negative results are not always |
| a minor problem associated with too much food or | | | | conclusive, and an upper endoscopic exploration is |
| alcahol, but there is always the underlying danger of | | | | suggested to ensure that no cancer is present |
| stomach cancer. | | | | Diet is of course a factor in gastric or stomach cancer. |
| The biggest diagnostic problem that we encounter, is | | | | The highest incidence of stomach cancer is in people |
| caused by symptoms that ofter arrive late due to the | | | | who have a diet high in foods which are preserved by |
| large capacity of the stomach. | | | | drying, salting, pickling or smoking. |
| If you tend to feel bloated after eating only a small | | | | Avoid pickled vegetables, smoked meat and |
| amount of food, an upper gastrointestional endoscopy | | | | excessively salty food. Processed meat products are |
| is an option for ruling out cancer that may be lurking. | | | | another cause, with the hot dog being of obvious |
| Other symptoms of stomach cancer include burning | | | | concern. Charcoal broiled foods are known to produce |
| heartburn or indigestion. This is common terminology | | | | nitrosamines which have also been linked to cancer. |
| for acid reflux or GERD. | | | | People who have had gastric atrophy which weakens |
| Nausea and vomiting may also be evident, as well as | | | | the stomach muscles are also at increased risk. Note |
| loss of appetite. Fatigue, weakness and abdominal pain | | | | that it also results in shrinkage of the peptic glands |
| are other indicators, and the passing of blood in vomit | | | | which in turn leads to a smaller amount of digestive |
| or urine should not go unchecked. | | | | juices. |
| If you do encounter any of the above symptoms, do | | | | I probably do not need to tell you that smoking is |
| not panic, as they are also typical of a diverse range | | | | another link, as well as dust and workplace fumes. |
| of gastrointestional conditions and not necessarily | | | | H. pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium known to cause |
| present due to cancer. | | | | stomach inflamation and ulcers has also been shown in |
| The most obvious early warning of gastric or stomach | | | | some studies to be a risk factor in stomach cancer. |
| cancer is the presence of blood in vomit or stools, | | | | If cancer is diagnosed, a CT or ultrasound will be used |
| however it is not always this simple as these | | | | to stage the cancer by indicating its spread throughout |
| symptoms are not always present. To further | | | | the body. Stages range from a primary tumor to |
| complicate matters, bleeding may be caused by ulcers | | | | tumors that invade the stomach wall muscle or |
| or Gastritis rather than cancer. | | | | adjacent structures. |
| If any internal bleeding is evident, a colonoscopy should | | | | |