Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract worldwide. Its onset is insidious and progresses slowly, and early symptoms are easily confused with common stomach problems, leading many patients to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and miss the best treatment opportunity. Understanding the main symptoms of gastric cancer and mastering scientific prevention methods are the keys to reducing the risk of gastric cancer and improving the cure rate. Combining medical knowledge, this article will detail the typical symptoms and practical prevention measures of gastric cancer to help everyone establish correct health awareness.
I. Key Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
The symptoms of gastric cancer gradually become obvious with the progression of the disease. Early symptoms are not typical and are often mistaken for benign diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is necessary to pay close attention to the following signals, especially when they exist for a long time or gradually worsen, and seek medical examination in time.
(I) Common Early Symptoms
1. Upper abdominal discomfort or dull pain: This is the most common early symptom of gastric cancer, mostly manifested as upper abdominal distension, dull pain, distending pain, or burning sensation. The pain is mild and irregular, unrelated to diet or aggravated after eating, and cannot be significantly relieved by rest. Many people regard it as a “stomach problem” and take stomach medicine by themselves to relieve it temporarily, but ignore the potential risks.
2. Loss of appetite and indigestion: Patients will suddenly experience loss of appetite, lose interest in their favorite foods, and have indigestion symptoms such as abdominal distension, belching, acid reflux, and nausea after eating. Some people will also experience slight weight loss, which is caused by the tumor affecting gastrointestinal function and leading to nutritional absorption disorders.
3. Abnormal stool: Occult blood in the stool may appear in the early stage (imperceptible to the naked eye, requiring laboratory tests to find), which is because the surface of the tumor bleeds a little and the blood is excreted with the stool. If the bleeding increases, melena may occur, which is tarry and shiny, and it is one of the important warning signs of gastric cancer.
(II) Typical Advanced Symptoms
As the tumor grows and invades deeper, the symptoms will gradually worsen and specific manifestations will appear. At this time, the condition has mostly progressed to the middle and advanced stages.
1. Severe abdominal pain: The pain turns into persistent severe colic or dull pain, and the pain range expands, which may radiate to the lumbodorsal region. It cannot be relieved by taking stomach medicine, seriously affecting sleep and diet.
2. Rapid weight loss: Due to the large amount of nutrients consumed by the tumor, and the patient’s severe loss of appetite and digestive absorption disorders, obvious weight loss will occur in a short period of time, and even cachexia (extreme weight loss, fatigue, anemia) may occur.
3. Hematemesis or aggravated melena: After the tumor invades blood vessels, a large amount of bleeding will occur, manifested as hematemesis (vomitus is coffee-colored or bright red), increased frequency and volume of melena, and life-threatening hemorrhagic shock in severe cases.
4. Other accompanying symptoms: Advanced gastric cancer may metastasize, and corresponding symptoms will appear when metastasizing to different parts. For example, metastasis to the liver may cause liver pain and jaundice; metastasis to the abdominal cavity may cause ascites and abdominal distension; metastasis to lymph nodes may cause swelling of cervical and supraclavicular lymph nodes.
II. Prevention Methods of Stomach Cancer
The occurrence of gastric cancer is the result of the combined action of genetic factors, environmental factors, living habits and other factors, among which the impact of acquired living habits is the most significant. By adjusting the lifestyle and conducting regular screening, the risk of gastric cancer can be effectively reduced, and “early prevention, early detection and early treatment” can be achieved.
(I) Adjust Diet Structure and Develop Good Eating Habits
Diet is closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer. Long-term unreasonable diet is an important factor inducing gastric cancer. It is recommended to:
1. Reduce the intake of pickled, smoked and fried foods: Pickled foods (such as salted vegetables, bacon, kimchi) contain nitrite, and smoked and fried foods (such as barbecue, fried chicken, fried dough sticks) contain carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Long-term and excessive consumption will increase the risk of gastric cancer, so they should be eaten as little as possible or not at all.
2. Increase the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables and high-quality protein: Fresh vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins, dietary fiber and antioxidants, which can inhibit the production of carcinogens; high-quality protein (such as fish, shrimp, lean meat, soy products, eggs) can enhance the body’s immunity and protect the gastric mucosa. It is recommended to take an appropriate amount every day.
3. Eat regularly and avoid overeating: Eat three meals regularly and quantitatively, with each meal being about 70% to 80% full. Avoid being hungry and full, which will reduce the stimulation to the gastric mucosa; chew slowly when eating, which helps digestion and reduces the burden on the stomach.
4. Quit smoking and limit alcohol: Smoking increases the risk of gastric cancer. Nicotine in tobacco damages the gastric mucosa and promotes tumor occurrence; excessive drinking stimulates the gastric mucosa, leading to congestion, edema and erosion of the gastric mucosa. Long-term drinking may induce gastric cancer. It is recommended to quit smoking and drink moderately (the daily alcohol intake of men should not exceed 25g, and that of women should not exceed 15g).
(II) Actively Treat Basic Gastric Diseases
Many benign gastric diseases, if not treated for a long time, will gradually develop into precancerous lesions and eventually induce gastric cancer. Common precancerous lesions include chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric polyps, Helicobacter pylori infection, gastric ulcer, etc., which need timely intervention and treatment:
1. Eradicate Helicobacter pylori: Helicobacter pylori is an important pathogenic factor of gastric cancer, and about 70% of gastric cancers are related to Helicobacter pylori infection. If Helicobacter pylori is positive in the test, standardized eradication treatment should be carried out under the guidance of doctors to reduce the risk of gastric cancer.
2. Treat chronic gastropathy: Patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric ulcer, gastric polyps, etc. should re-examine regularly, take medicine as prescribed by doctors, and avoid disease progression. In particular, gastric polyps need to be surgically removed in time to prevent polyp malignant transformation.
(III) Develop Healthy Living Habits
1. Regular work and rest: Avoid staying up late for a long time, ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Staying up late will disrupt the body’s biological clock, reduce immunity, and increase the risk of tumor occurrence.
2. Moderate exercise: Do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day, such as brisk walking, jogging, swimming, tai chi, etc., which can enhance physical fitness, promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, improve digestive function, and reduce the risk of gastric cancer.
3. Regulate mood: Long-term mental tension, anxiety and depression will affect gastrointestinal function, lead to insufficient blood supply to the gastric mucosa and decreased repair ability, and increase the risk of gastropathy and gastric cancer. It is recommended to maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, and relieve pressure through listening to music, meditation, communicating with others and other ways.
(IV) Conduct Regular Gastric Cancer Screening
Gastric cancer screening is an effective means to detect gastric cancer early, especially for high-risk groups, who need regular screening:
1. Definition of high-risk groups: Over 40 years old; having a family history of gastric cancer; long-term suffering from gastric diseases such as chronic atrophic gastritis, gastric polyps, Helicobacter pylori infection; long-term eating pickled and smoked foods, smoking and drinking.
2. Screening methods: Common screening methods include gastroscopy, Helicobacter pylori detection, fecal occult blood test, etc. Among them, gastroscopy is the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of gastric cancer, which can directly observe gastric mucosal lesions. When suspicious lesions are found, pathological biopsy can be performed to clarify the nature of the lesions. It is recommended that high-risk groups undergo gastroscopy every 1-2 years, and the general population undergo screening every 3-5 years.
III. Summary
The occurrence of gastric cancer is not an overnight process, but a long-term accumulation process. Early symptoms are hidden and easy to be ignored, while the treatment of middle and advanced stages is difficult and the prognosis is poor. Therefore, “prevention” is far more important than “treatment”. By developing good eating and living habits, actively treating basic gastric diseases, and conducting regular screening, the risk of gastric cancer can be effectively reduced. At the same time, once abnormal symptoms such as upper abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, melena, and weight loss appear, you should seek medical treatment in time, do not delay, and achieve early discovery, early diagnosis and early treatment to improve the cure rate and survival rate of gastric cancer.