He gastric cancer It is a general term for any malignant tumor that arises from the cells of any of the layers of the stomach. It is the most common neoplasm of the digestive tract worldwide, being the third cause of death from cancer worldwide in both sexes. The term gastric cancer refers to adenocarcinomas of the stomach, the most common histological type, which represent a 95% of malignant tumors of this organ. Except in Japan, carcinoma of the stomach is generally in an advanced stage of development at the time of diagnosis, with infiltration beyond the submucosa and invasion of the gastric wall.
Gastric Cancer and its Treatment
What is Gastric cancer?
RISK FACTOR'S
They are the agents or conditions that predispose or increase the chances of having a certain disease.
NUTRITIONAL FACTORS: Diets rich in salt and smoked foods typical of Japan, Korea and China, low in fresh fruits and vegetables, and high concentrations of nitrates in foods favor the risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: Poor food preparation, lack of refrigeration and poor water that may have high concentrations of nitrates or Helicobacter pylori increase the risk.
TOBACCO: Tobacco increases the risk of developing many cancers, including stomach cancer.
PREDISPOSING DISEASES OR CONDITIONS: Diseases or predisposing conditions:
Previous gastric surgery: It takes years for cancer to appear on the residual stomach (gastric stump). In general, this period is usually longer than 10 -15 years.
Chronic atrophic gastritis: It can degenerate until it becomes cancer.
Pernicious anemia: It is a special type of anemia, which increases the risk by about 20 times.
Gastric polyps: The risk of cancer developing on a polyp depends, among other factors, on the size of the polyp and its histology. In general, the larger the size, the greater the risk of malignancy.
H. Pylori infection: H. pylori is a bacteria that can be found in the stomach and cause ulcers and chronic gastritis. Worldwide it is the most important risk factor for gastric cancer. However, despite the increased risk of gastric cancer, most people with this infection will NOT develop it.
Gastroesophageal reflux: Increases the risk of cancer of the gastroesophageal junction.
Family Factors
DIAGNOSIS
The diagnosis of gastric cancer is based on clinical history, physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests such as CT, upper digestive endoscopy (gastroscopy) and biopsy.
CLINIC
ASYMPTOMATIC: Gastric cancer may not produce symptoms until advanced stages.
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SYMPTOMS: Symptoms (what the patient notices) are usually vague and nonspecific. The most common are indigestion, weight loss, upper abdominal pain, changes in bowel frequency, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Bleeding can be of various types and cause anemia. Nausea and vomiting, a feeling of early fullness (feeling of being full after eating little) due to lack of distention of the gastric wall, ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), fatigue, etc. may also be noted.
TREATMENT
Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR): This REM technique consists of removing the tumor using gastroscopy and is reserved for cancers that are in early stages.
Below are the details of some of these treatments:
SURGERY: Gastrectomy is the standard surgical technique to resect the primary tumor.
RADIOTHERAPY: It is treatment with ionizing radiation with technologies such as intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). These treatments use special computers and techniques to focus radiation on the cancer and limit damage to adjacent normal tissues. The patient lies on the table and has to remain still for the minutes that the radiotherapy administration lasts. Radiotherapy is NOT a painful treatment.
Currently, the Siglo XXI Radiotherapy Clinic has the technology and experience to treat this type of disease, guaranteeing the protection of surrounding organs and tissues, thus providing a higher quality of life for the patient.
To treat gastric cancer, radiotherapy can be used in different ways:
After surgery called adjuvant radiation therapy can be used to destroy small remnants that cannot be removed with surgery. Radiotherapy can be accompanied by chemotherapy to prevent or postpone recurrence and increase its effectiveness.
Less frequently, it can be administered before surgery in a neoadjuvant manner with chemotherapy to try to reduce the size of the tumor and facilitate surgery. The decision to administer radiotherapy pre- or postoperatively depends on a series of factors that vary from one patient to another and will be decided by the treating physician.
As a palliative treatment, radiation therapy is effective in slowing growth, controlling pain, and relieving symptoms of advanced gastric cancer. In this situation, it is usually administered alone, without chemotherapy.
