The growth of cancerous cells within the lining of the stomach is known as stomach cancer. Also called gastric cancer, stomach cancer is difficult to diagnose because most people typically don’t show symptoms in the early stages. It occurs when normal healthy cells within the upper digestive system become cancerous and grow out of control, forming a tumor. This process happens slowly and tends to develop over many years. One of the biggest dangers of stomach cancer is the difficulty of diagnosing it, as this cancer is relatively rare compared to other types of cancer. Usually, stomach cancer doesn’t show any early signs, it often goes undiagnosed until it spreads to other parts of the body. This makes it more difficult to treat.

Diagnosis

• Gastroscopic examination – The specialist looks at the inside of the patient’s stomach with a fiber optic camera. Some tissue samples may be taken if one is suspected of having cancer. This process is called a biopsy.
• Ultrasound scan – If cancer is suspected in the top part of the stomach this type of scan is used to diagnose cancer.
• Barium meal X-ray – In the barium swallow study, the patient swallows a liquid which contains barium. This helps to highlight the stomach during an X-ray.
• Laparoscopy – It is performed to look inside the abdomen in more detail and to determine how far the cancer has spread. In this procedure, the patient is placed under general anesthesia and through the small incision made in the lower part of the stomach, a laparoscope is inserted into the stomach.
• CT scan or PET scan – These scans take radiographic pictures of the inside of the body. The images help to determine how advanced the cancer is, and where it has spread to in the body. These types of scans also help to decide on the most appropriate treatment.

Ways to treat stomach cancer

Surgery

• Removing tumors from the stomach lining in the early stage of cancer – An endoscopy known as endoscopic mucosal resection is done to remove small tumors that are confined to the inside lining of the stomach.
• Subtotal gastrectomy – In this type of surgery, a part of the stomach is surgically removed.
• Total gastrectomy – In this process, the whole stomach is surgically removed.
  
  Radiation therapy – In this therapy, energy rays are used to target and kill cancerous cells. To treat stomach cancer, this type of therapy is not commonly used because of the risk of harming nearby organs. Only if serious symptoms, such as bleeding or severe pain are caused due to stomach cancer or if it is in an advanced stage radiation therapy is an option.

  Chemotherapy – Chemotherapy is a special treatment that uses medicines to stop rapidly growing cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. These medicines are also known as cytotoxic medicines. The medication attacks cancer cells at the primary site of the cancer and any other regions it has metastasized to.