Stomach Cancer

The stomach

The stomach is a hole in the upper abdomen , under the ribs organ.

It is part of the digestive system. The food passes from the mouth through the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach , the food becomes liquid . The muscles of the stomach wall pushes the fluid in the small intestine .
The stomach wall has five layers :

Inner layer or lining ( mucosa) : Juices made ​​by glands in the inner layer help digest food . Most stomach cancers begin in this layer.

Submucosa : This is the support tissue for the inner layer .


Muscle layer: Muscles in this layer contract to mix and mash the food.

Subserosa : This is the support tissue for the outer layer .

The outer layer ( serosa) : The outer layer covering the stomach . Have the stomach instead.

Understanding Cancer

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues . Tissues make up the organs of the body .

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old , they die , and new cells take their place .

Sometimes , this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often a mass of tissue called a growth , polyp or tumor.

Tumors in the stomach can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant ( cancerous). Benign tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors :


Benign tumors :

• are rarely a threat to life
• can be removed and usually do not grow back
• not invade the tissues around them
• do not spread to other body parts
• Malignant tumors :
• can be a threat to life
• often can be removed but sometimes grow back
• They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
• can spread to other body parts

Stomach cancer usually begins in cells in the lining of the stomach. Over time , the cancer may invade more deeply into the stomach wall . A stomach tumor can grow through the outer layer of the stomach into nearby organs such as the liver , pancreas , esophagus or intestine.

The stomach cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor. They enter blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into all the tissues of the body. Cancer cells may be found in lymph nodes near the stomach. The cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues.

The spread of cancer is called metastasis. See the test section for information on stomach cancer that has spread .

Symptoms

• The trouble he 's in pain stomach it
• difficulty deglutir
• Nausea and vomiting
• weight loss
• Feeling of fullness after the swelling of one small meals
• Vomit with what tiene bled bled in them Heces
• Muy is often , these symptoms are due in al cancer . Other problems salud , like the one ulcer infection , you can sign them mismos cause symptoms . Teng Cualquiera persona that these symptoms should be reported to su doctor to the problems you can sign be diagnosed and treated as early as possible clogs .

Diagnosis

If usted tiene sugieren symptoms of stomach cancer , he doctor will examine you to see if you have cancer al otra him some cause. Su doctor you can sign channel with a gastroenterologist , a doctor Whose Specialty es el diagnosis and it Tratamiento digestive problems .

He reads medical su asked about personal and family history of salud . You may have bled tengo pruebas u otro laboratory . Usted también puedes tener :

Physical Exam : Su doctor it Feels abdomen for fluid , swelling , u otros changes . Su doctor will check whether también hay inflamed lymph nodes .
Endoscopy : The doctor uses a thin , lighted tube ( endoscope ) to look within su stomach . He falls asleep doctor primero her throat with an anesthetic spray . También puedes receive medications to ayudarle RELAJARSE . He tube is passed through the mouth and esophagus rod he stomach it .
Biopsy : An endoscope tiene una Tools pull to extract tejido . Su medical endoscope uses it to extract it tejido stomach . A pathologist examines it tejido bajo a microscope in search of cancer cells . One biopsy are the only Manera sure whether No cancer cells present .
You may have these preguntarle the medical su siguiente them questions before undergoing biopsy one :

Treatment

Treatment for stomach cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy. You will likely receive more than one type of treatment. For example , chemotherapy can be administered before or after surgery . It is often given at the same time as radiation therapy .

You may want to talk to your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial , a research study of new treatment methods . Clinical trials are an important option for people at any stage of stomach cancer.

You can have a team of specialists to help plan your treatment. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, or you may ask for a referral . Specialists who treat stomach cancer include gastroenterologists , surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists . Your health care team may also include an oncology nurse and a registered dietitian.

Your health care team can describe your treatment choices , the expected results and possible side effects. Because cancer therapy often damages cells and tissues , the side effects are common . Before treatment starts , ask your health care team about possible side effects, how to prevent or reduce these effects , and how treatment may change your normal activities. You and your team of health care can work together to make a treatment plan that meets your needs .

You may want to ask your doctor these questions before treatment begins :

• What is the stage of the disease ? Cancer has spread ? Do any lymph nodes show signs of cancer ?
• What is the goal of treatment ? What are my treatment options? What do you suggest ? Why?
• What are the expected benefits of each kind of treatment?
• What can I do to prepare for treatment?
• Will I have to stay in the hospital? If so , for how long ?
• What are the risks and possible side effects of each treatment ? How can other effects be managed ?
• What is likely that the cost of treatment ? Will my insurance cover ?
• How will treatment affect my normal activities? Am I likely to have eating or other problems ?
• A research study ( clinical trial ) be a good choice for me?
• Can you recommend other doctors who could give me a second opinion about my treatment options ?
• How often should I have checkups ?