What is Stomach Cancer?
Cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control.
Stomach cancers tend to develop slowly over a period of many years. Before a true cancer forms, changes often occur in the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach. These early changes rarely
cause symptoms and therefore go undetected
The stomach has five parts:
Cardia : The first part is closest to the esophagus.
Fundus : the upper part of the stomach close to the cardia.
Body – The main part of the stomach, between the upper and lower parts.
Antrum : the lower part (close to the intestine), where food is mixed with gastric juice.
Pylorus – The last part of the stomach that acts as a valve to control the emptying of stomach contents into the small intestine.
Types of stomach cancer.
- Adenocarcinoma: The majority (approximately 90% to 95%) of stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas. A stomach cancer or gastric cancer is almost always an adenocarcinoma.
These cancers start in cells that make up the innermost layer of the stomach (the mucosa). - Lymphoma: Refers to cancerous tumors of the immune system that are sometimes found in the lining of the stomach. Treatment and prognosis depend on the type of lymphoma.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST): These rare tumors start from very early forms of cells in the stomach wall called interstitial cells of Cajal.
- Carcinoid tumors: These tumors start from hormone-producing cells in the stomach. Most of these tumors do not spread to other organs.
Stomach cancer in Mexico.
Mexico is an intermediate risk country for the development of gastric adenocarcinoma. This tumor is the fourth cause of cancer worldwide and the third cause of cancer death in Mexico in individuals over 20 years of age.
According to GLOBOCAN, gastric adenocarcinoma is the fourth leading cause of cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer death in Mexico in individuals older than 20 years.
According to epidemiological evidence, Mexico is considered a country with an intermediate incidence (between 10 and 20 cases per 100,000 inhabitants) for gastric cancer. However, it is important to recognize that there are differences between the various regions of the country.Stomach cancer in Latin America.
60% of new cases and deaths from stomach cancer in the Americas occur in men. The proportion of new cases and deaths from stomach cancer is higher in Latin America and the Caribbean compared to North America, especially in men. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 11% of new cancer cases and 18% of cancer deaths are from stomach cancer, while in North America only 3% of new cases and 4% of cancer deaths are due to stomach cancer. According to projections, in the year 2030 there will be more than 138,000 new cases and 107,000 deaths from stomach cancer.
The number of cases and deaths from stomach cancer will nearly double in Latin America and the Caribbean, in both men and women, by 2030.
Stomach cancer worldwide.
Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, and also represents one of the highest cancer burdens, when measured in terms of disability-adjusted life years lost.
Approximately 65% of patients with gastric cancer present with locally advanced or metastatic disease, and the majority will present with systemic disease at some point in their disease course.
Symptoms.- Little appetite.
- Weight loss (without trying to lose weight).
- Abdominal pain.
- Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually just above the navel.
- Sensation of fullness in the upper abdomen after eating a light meal.
- Acidity (heartburn) or indigestion.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting, with or without blood.
- Swelling or fluid buildup in the abdomen.
- Blood in the feces.
- Low red blood cell count (anemia).
Treatments. Surgery : An operation in which doctors cut out the cancerous tissue.
Chemotherapy : Special drugs are used to shrink or kill cancer cells. These drugs can be pills you take or drugs injected into your veins, or sometimes both.
Radiation therapy : High-energy rays (similar to X-rays) are used to kill cancer cells.
Immunotherapy: Medicines are used to help a person’s immune system recognize and kill cancer cells more effectively.
Targeted therapy: Drugs made to attack changes in cancer cells are used.