Stomach Cancer (also called Gastric Cancer) occurs when abnormal cells grow inside the stomach lining. If not detected in time, these cells can spread to other parts of the body, including nearby organs like the liver and pancreas. Sanjoy Mondal, an experienced doctor specializing in treating stomach cancer, explains whether stomach cancer symptoms in females and males are different.
Common Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
The symptoms of stomach cancer usually cannot be detected during early stages and may overlap with other less severe conditions. Here are some of the common symptoms to watch for:
- Abdominal Pain: Continuous pain or discomfort in the stomach area
- Nausea and Vomiting: Feeling sick and vomiting may include blood or food that hasn’t been digested
- Loss of Appetite: Decrease in your desire to eat, leading to weight loss
- Difficulty Swallowing: Feeling like food is getting stuck in your throat or chest
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Losing excessive weight without any apparent reason
Who is more likely to develop stomach cancer?
No evidence indicates that the stomach cancer symptoms in females differ from those in males. However, sex may influence the type or severity of the condition. For instance, a 2023 study found that males are more likely to develop upper gastric cancer and experience complications following surgery, particularly in individuals aged 75 and older. Despite these differences, the symptoms of stomach cancer generally do not vary based on sex.
Diagnosis
- Medical History: A record of a patient’s past health issues, treatments, and symptoms. It helps doctors understand risk factors and possible causes of current symptoms.
- Physical Exam: An assessment performed by a doctor to check for physical signs of disease, such as tenderness, lumps, or changes in body functions.
- Endoscopy: A procedure which uses a flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) to look inside the body.
- Biopsy: The process of removing a small tissue sample from the body to examine it for cancer cells under a microscope.
- CT Scan (Computed Tomography): An imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed images of the body. It helps to visualize the size and location of tumours.
Treatment Options
- Surgery: A treatment that involves removing cancerous tissue from the body. For stomach cancer, it can include partial or total removal of the stomach.
- Partial Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of part of the stomach.
- Total Gastrectomy: Surgical removal of the entire stomach.
2. Lymph Node Removal: The surgical removal of lymph nodes near the stomach to check if cancer has spread to these nodes.
3. Chemotherapy: A treatment that uses powerful medicines to stop the growth of cancer cells. It is mainly accompanied with surgery to destroy the remaining cancer cells which could not be eliminated even during surgery.
4. Radiation Therapy: A treatment that uses high-energy radiation to target and destroy cancer cells. It is less commonly used for stomach cancer but can be used to relieve symptoms.
Conclusion
Understanding each of these terms helps in understanding the diagnosis and treatment for stomach cancer. If you have any doubt regarding whether there is difference between stomach cancer symptoms in females and males, you can consult Dr. Sanjoy Mondal.