Patients with cancer of the stomach as well as cancer patients generally detect the disease when it is late, so the survival time is usually short. However, if the disease is detected and treated early, the chance of cure is up to 99%.
According to BS. Bùng, stomach cancer is a common disease in the world as well as in Vietnam, ranking the third of the 10 popular cancers in Vietnam.
Presided over at the workshop, TS. Dr. CK II Pham Van Bung – Head of Department of Oncology General Hospital Hong Duc presented important knowledge related to stomach cancer. Accordingly, gastric cancer is a malignant disease of the stomach injury, causes unclear, rapid progression, early diagnosis difficult, prognosis, and no specific treatment.
BS. Bing stressed, smoking increases the risk of stomach cancer 1.5 -1.6 times.
– Helicobacter Pylori infection: Patients with chronic gastritis caused by this bacterium but not treated thoroughly, the incidence of gastric cancer is 10-20 times higher than normal.
– Gastric mucosal thrombosis: Studies have shown that stomach cancer is usually caused by thinning stomachs.
– High salt diet, high nitrate (many in cold meats).
– Genetic factors: In the family, relatives have had stomach cancer.
– Surgery has been performed to remove a portion of the stomach, altering the normal pH in the stomach, which can lead to cancer later.
Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, makes it more likely that cancer of the gastrointestinal tract (esophagus).
– The early stage sometimes has no symptoms, or the symptoms are very vague as anorexia, diarrhea, flatulence, indigestion, so easy mistake with gastric ulcer usually.
These symptoms appear from 6 months to 1 year ago, sometimes transient and decreased very quickly with the use of drugs to treat stomach pain.
In the late stage, two common symptoms are nausea and weight loss.
In addition, patients may have symptoms of vomiting blood, black pepper due to complications of gastrointestinal bleeding or symptoms of nausea, vomiting old food due to gastric traumatic dyspnea.
The workshop attracted many questions and inquiries for counseling about gastric cancer from attendees.
According to BS. Bung, want to detect early cancer of the stomach must rely on the cancer screening program. To diagnose gastric cancer, gastroscopy is the only method and also the most valuable (95% accuracy). Gastrointestinal endoscopy is the primary method for diagnosing an illness even from an early stage. In addition, through gastroscopy, the doctor can take samples from the stomach area of ​​the suspected cancer to see under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis (biopsy).
At present, the new method (Kimura method) helps to diagnose gastric mucosal atrophy from the mild stage. From there, a more appropriate regimen for early detection of stomach cancer as it appears. These areas are thin atrophy.
– Late Stage: Surgery and chemotherapy support but the effect is limited.
– Early stage: In Vietnam, the method of “gastric mucosal laparoscopy” has been applied. There is no need for surgical removal of the stomach and the chance of cure is up to 99%.
The rate of complete healing after 5 years is also up to 90%. Therefore, early detection of disease is extremely important.
– Should not be subjective but should go to medical examination and endoscopy when there are symptoms of transient gastrointestinal symptoms such as not eating delicious, full stomach, especially when entering the 40s and especially in the family has ever stomach ulcers or stomach cancer.
Persons with a history of gastric ulcer should be screened for and thoroughly treated for Helicobacter Pylori infection.
– Avoid eating salty foods or eating too many types of ham, sausages, meat.
Patients who have been diagnosed with mild gastrectomy should consult a gastroenterologist for appropriate treatment and monitoring to avoid further progress.
In particular, patients with severe gastric mucosal disease should be gastroscopy examination every 1-2 years to detect gastric cancer early.
Do not “wait to attack the new home”, sick to the new body care!