Stomach cancer does typically not create its early stage symptoms. As a result, it is sometimes not diagnosed until it is advanced.
Doctors use the stage of your cancer to determine the optimal treatment strategy for you. The stage indicates how far cancer has gone in your stomach and elsewhere in your body.
Stage 0 stomach cancer is the most advanced stage and is also known as "carcinoma in situ." This signifies that the cancer is only on the stomach lining's outer surface. Cancer has not moved beyond the stomach or into any lymph nodes, and treatment has been highly effective.
Adenocarcinoma is a kind of stomach cancer that originates in the stomach lining. It begins in epithelial cells in the mucosa layer of the stomach and spreads to the muscular and serosa layers of the stomach wall as it expands.
Other kinds of stomach cancer include lymphoma (immune system cancer), gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), and neuroendocrine carcinomas, in addition to adenocarcinoma. Lymphoma is responsible for 4% of all stomach malignancies.
It is uncommon for this type of cancer to begin in the stomach lining, but it can arise from the lymphatic tissue that drains fluid and aids in the fight against infections. Lymphoma can spread to other places of the body in some situations.
This malignancy might be challenging to detect and treat. Your healthcare team will collaborate with you to establish the optimal treatment plan for your specific requirements.
Chemotherapy uses medications that move through the body and kill cancer cells. It can be injected into a vein, taken as a pill, or coupled with radiation therapy (radiotherapy).
Surgery to remove part or all of your stomach and adjacent lymph nodes is another popular treatment. This is accomplished by inserting a flexible tube called an endoscope into your throat while asleep.
Surgery can also be performed to remove aberrant cells in the stomach lining that a biopsy cannot remove. This is known as high-grade dysplasia (HGD); if not treated, it can progress to aggressive malignancy.
The initial stage of stomach cancer begins when the oesophagus meets the long tube that transports food from your mouth to your stomach. The gastroesophageal junction is what it's called, and a doctor can examine it with a narrow tube called an endoscope that passes down your throat.
Cancer begins in the mucosa cells, the stomach's innermost layer. It also forms the stomach's muscle and connective tissue, or serosa.
It also spreads to neighbouring lymph nodes (N) and may spread to other parts of your body from here. These are known as metastatic diseases and are extremely difficult to treat.
However, there are medications available to help relieve symptoms and give you some control over your life. This usually consists of surgery to remove part or all of your stomach and chemo and radiation therapy.
These medicines have the potential to cure cancer while also making you feel better. They can also reduce your chances of getting cancer again.
Treatment for Stage I cancer is frequently successful, but it depends on your health and how far cancer has gone. Your doctor will advise you on what is best for you.
Doctors may use chemotherapy and radiation therapy as primary therapies if cancer has not progressed to your lungs or other body parts. If cancer has progressed to these locations, you may be unable to have surgery or choose not to have it.
A blood test, an upper endoscopy, and other procedures will be performed to look for symptoms of malignancy. These tests can assist in determining whether cancer begins in the stomach's mucosa, muscularis mucosa, or serosa.
Your doctor will next inform you of the "stage" of your stomach cancer. The cancer stage reflects how far it has spread and how serious it is. It also assists doctors and patients in developing a treatment plan that is appropriate for them.