Stomach cancer is one of the most important causes of death in the world. In the 1980s, 750,000 patients were diagnosed with stomach cancer, and 600,000 of them died from stomach cancer in the first year.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
It is common in some countries around the world, and this cancer is caused by genetics. It shows that it is related to factors and eating habits. This disease is more common especially in Japan, China and Ireland. It is twice as common in men than in women. This disease is generally seen between the ages of 60-70.
RISK FACTORS
Low socio-economic level
Environmental conditions
Diet (Nitrates, smoky foods, highly salty foods)
Those with a history of stomach cancer in their first-degree relatives
Those with atrophic gastritis
Those with Helicobacter pylori infection
Those who have Billroth-2 surgery (It is a surgery performed on stomach ulcers)
Those with adenomatous gastric polyp disease
Those with Menetrier disease
A blood group
WHERE ARE STOMACH CANCERS MOST OBSERVED?
Stomach cancers Most of them are seen in the antrum or lesser curvature regions of the stomach. The pathological type of most stomach cancers is adenocarcinoma. Lymphomas are seen less frequently
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STOMACH CANCER?
Feeling of discomfort, pain and heaviness in the stomach area and the area around it on the abdomen
Rapid weight loss in a short time
Nausea and vomiting
Cachexia (Severe weight loss)
Feeling of discomfort after meals
Bleeding or hidden bleeding in the digestive system
Early feeling of fullness
2/3 of the patients ′Iron deficiency anemia (anemia)
DIAGNOSIS
First, give medication. While targeted films were used, today the endoscopic method is preferred. Endoscopy is performed with the help of a tube with an optical imaging system that is entered through the mouth and sent to the stomach. This is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method. With this method, the physician can see the stomach surface with the naked eye and takes biopsy samples from the suspected areas and sends them for pathological examination, which allows the characteristics of the suspected ulcer or cancer tissue to be distinguished.
TREATMENT OF STOMACH CANCER >
The first treatment option for stomach adenocarcinomas is surgery. Although it varies depending on the condition and location of the disease, usually all or almost all of the stomach is surgically removed and a new section is made for the patient to serve as the stomach using the small intestines. Removing only the tumor tissue can be done in rare cases and only in tumors limited to the mucosa.
Surgery is not the first option in the treatment of lymphoma. Treating Helicobacter pylori infection in low-grade lymphomas provides recovery in nearly half of the patients. Chemotherapy is applied to the remaining cases. In advanced stage lymphomas, only chemotherapy or surgery + chemotherapy is applied.
In the type of tumor called stomach sarcoma, complete surgical removal of the tumor provides treatment.
STOMACH CANCER AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI (HP )
The relationship between stomach cancer and HP infection was first mentioned in 1983. Later studies showed that the risk of cancer in patients with HP infection increased 4 times compared to normal. While the relationship between HP and cancer risk is 49% (general HP positivity 35%) in developed countries, it increases to 70% (general HP positivity 85%) in developing countries.
Different results are used in different studies using different methods. Although there are differences, in the most optimistic estimates, at least 31% of gastric cancer in developed countries and 52% in developing countries are associated with HP infection. This means that on average one third of cancer patients are caused by HP infection.
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