According to statistics, stomach cancer is not that common as it used to be 70 years ago however about 24,000 new patients are diagnosed every year in the United States only. If this cancer is discovered in the early stage the survival rate is 90%. Even though it can be cured, the symptoms of stomach cancer are not easily detected and they usually don’t occur before the disease is spread to other organs. If the cancer is diagnosed in the stage of spreading the treatment is no longer an option and the survival rate of 5 years is only 3%.
Many people want to know what they can do to stop this silent killer before it is too late. In case you are wondering too, we can help you. The first thing you should do is to learn all the warning signs and risk factors. What makes stomach cancer hard to diagnose is that when the symptoms occur they are usually mild so the patient usually ignores them.
According to the American Cancer Society these are the symptoms that could be a sign of stomach cancer:
- indigestion or heartburn
- discomfort or pain in the abdomen
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea or constipation
- stomach bloating after meals
- loss of appetite
- weakness and fatigue
- bleeding (vomiting blood or blood in the stool)
To learn how you can prevent and reduce your risk of stomach cancer read the following common factors that increase your chances of developing stomach cancer:
- age (over 55)
- gender (males are 2/3 more likely than women)
- consuming high amounts of foods that are smoked, dried, salted, or pickled
- smoking and alcohol abuse
- previous stomach surgery
- family history
- presence in stomach of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which may cause ulcers
Note: In case you experience any of the above mentioned warning sings, consult your doctor immediately. If there is something suspicious your doctor will refer you to a gastroenterologist (digestive disorders specialist) for further tests and evaluation.