Gastric cancer is another name for stomach cancer. It is a fatal condition that develops due to the buildup of cells that are not normal and that give rise to a mass in the regions of the stomach. Cancer can occur in any region of the stomach.
The patients who constantly show symptoms associated with stomach cancer should immediately consult a doctor. The doctor will question the patient about the lifestyle pattern, medical history, family medical history, and symptoms. The questions asked by the doctor could potentially include lifestyle choices, including their meals, and whether they smoke or drink.
Thereafter, the doctor will perform a physical examination to determine the lumpiness or the tenderness of the person’s stomach. The doctor may also need to do certain blood tests to detect if too much of certain substances present in the system is indicating stomach cancer. A complete blood test may be required to determine the number of white blood cells, hemoglobin, red blood cells, and platelets in the patient.
In the case where the doctor is suspecting gastric cancer, they will ask the patient to consult a specialist who deals with stomach diseases for advance testing. This specialist is known as a gastroenterologist. A gastroenterologist will be able to indicate the appropriate types of gastric cancers, some of which include the following:
1. Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma occurs in cells present in the stomach’s inner lining. Many types of stomach cancers are categorized as adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
2. Lymphomas
Lymphomas are a type of cancer that is related to the tissues of the immune system. This type of cancer usually develops in any region where the lymph tissue is present, including the stomach. The presence of lymphoma in a person’s stomach is a very rare type of stomach cancer that accounts for around four percent of cases of stomach cancer.
3. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor
A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the rarest type of stomach cancer that starts in a certain cell that is present in the stomach’s lining and is known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). When seen through a microscope, cells of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor look similar to nerve or muscle cells. Such tumors can occur in the entire digestive tract; however, around sixty to seventy percent develop in the stomach.
Typically, a carcinoid tumor can start in the cells that produce the gut hormones. Such tumors mostly don’t spread to other organs and comprise of just an estimate of three percent of all the cases of stomach cancers. There are 3 types of gastric carcinoid tumors:
- Type 1 and 2 ECL-cell carcinoids rarely spread to different body parts and have a possibility of showcasing no symptoms whatsoever. An endoscopy may be required. This may be done to detect another issue of the person’s health, for example, acid reflux.
- The more aggressive ones are the Type 3 ECL-cell carcinoids. When there is excessive secretion of the hormone, the carcinoid tumors can cause the development of a condition that is known as carcinoid syndrome. This condition is marked by heart troubles like valve dysfunction, flushing, constriction of bronchial tubes, diarrhea, and pain in the abdomen.