by Lynn Chua

Created on: May 25, 2008

Stomach cancer may be hard to detect, but you can reduce the risk of getting it. Stomach cancer is hard to detect in its initial stage, by the time you was diagnosed, the cancer was already in its advanced stage. Such cases are common among stomach cancer victims.

In early stage, the symptoms can be elusive. Those with early gastric cancer wither have no symptoms or have symptoms that are indistinguishable from ailments like gastritis or indigestion. The most common symptom of stomach cancer is dyspepsia, which is pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. But this pain can be non specific and may be related to ulceration (sores) or obstruction (blockage) of the stomach. This disease runs the risk of being misdiagnosed as normal gastric pain. Only about two percent of the cases suggest early stomach cancer. Normally by the time the symptoms described above show up, it often means that the cancer is at a more advanced stage. Approximately two-third of all stomach cancer patients are diagnosed in the third and fourth stages of the cancer. Another possible warning sign of stomach cancer is bleeding, which occurs when the cancer ulcerates. The bleeding can be heavy, leading to bloody vomit or black stool, or can be more subtle, with small amounts of blood found in the stool. Other symptoms are feeling full after eating a small meal, heartburn, nausea, vomiting especially after meals and difficulty swallowing.

Some risk factors such as family history cannot be helped but you can reduce the risk by making a few lifestyle changes. Like stop smoking, consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, cut down on foods that contain dietary nitrates. Cured meats are bacon, ham, hot dogs and other processed meats and pickled foods. Helicobacter pylori infection caused by bacteria tan can cause stomach ulcer which increase the risk by five times. While smoker have a 1.5 times risk of the disease.

Most early detection and treatment improve the chances of survival. If the cancer is detected early, the recovery rate is very high at about 70 percent or more. The most efficient way to find out if you have stomach cancer is to go for gastrocopy examination which is performed under light sedation by inserting a fibre-optic tube through the mouth. This allows the doctor to see any abnormality in the stomach.

For those under 40, who are less likely to develop stomach cancer, it is reasonable to have a trial of medical treatment for gastritis. But if the symptoms persist, after two months, then they can consider a gastrocopy. But of course, anyone with symptoms suggestive of the disease in its advanced stage should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

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