There are less than 200,000 cases of stomach cancer diagnosed in the United States yearly. Unfortunately, many of the people who are affected, don't realize that there is anything wrong until their condition has become advanced. Often stomach cancer doesn't initially cause any symptoms, and when it finally does, the symptoms can easily be mistaken for other common illnesses.
Because of this, it is important that those who have a high risk of developing stomach cancer know the following signs of the condition that they should look out for:
With this type of cancer, a tumor will often begin to grow inside of the stomach. As it expands in size from the multiplication of its cells, it will take up more and more space, which can cause a person to feel full even if they have only eaten a few bites of food. This sensation may be noticed most often by those who normally have a voracious appetite and are usually able to eat quite a bit more of their favorite dishes.
Cancer of the stomach is a very painful condition. The pain that occurs with it will be mainly located in the upper quadrant of the abdomen at first though because this is where the stomach is located. But this may change if the cancer spreads to other surrounding organs and tissue, such as the liver and large intestines.
Like many other types of cancer, fatigue is common with this condition. Most people who have fatigue from cancer describe it as a debilitating type of exhaustion that isn't alleviated from getting a good night's rest. Simply performing day-to-day tasks, such as cooking a meal or taking a shower, becomes difficult. Since cancer-related fatigue sets in gradually though, it might not be noticed at first.
The abdomen may look distended and bloated in those who have stomach cancer. This is most often caused by a tumor in the stomach that is growing in size. However, it may also be caused by an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen that doctors often refer to as ascites.
Weight loss from stomach cancer may initially seem like a blessing to those who have been struggling to lose a few pounds for years. But it will quickly become worrisome as a person becomes thinner and thinner without even trying. The reason that weight loss seems to occur with this condition is because a person's appetite will be significantly reduced from the cancerous tumor in their stomach.
One good rule of thumb that medical professionals suggest to their patients who have concerns about excessive weight loss is to calculate the percentage of weight that they have lost and the amount of time that it took them to lose it. If more than 5% of their weight was lost in a time span of less than a few months, it is time to see a doctor for a check-up.
Frequent nausea and vomiting may occur in some people who have stomach cancer, especially if they try to eat more than a few bites of food at a time. When a person with this condition vomits though, there will often be blood in it from internal bleeding in their stomach. The way that a person will be able to know if they have blood in their vomit is by checking to see if it looks like there are coffee grounds in it.
The color of a person's stools tends to change depending on what they recently ate. But for the most part, they should appear to be a medium shade of brown. Any time that this color changes, it is important to let your doctor right away because it can be a sign that something is wrong. One good example of this can be seen with the bloody stools that stomach cancer causes. They will look black and tarry instead of brown. That is only if the bleeding is coming from the upper part of the digestive tract though. If there is bleeding in the stomach, a person may have speckled stools that look like they have coffee grounds in them.
It is also important to mention that sometimes blood in the stools can't be seen with the naked eye. So the only way for a doctor to know that it is there is by examining a person's stools with a fecal occult blood test. This test is usually done if a person has other signs of the condition, but the doctor is still unsure of the final diagnosis yet.
In the late stages of this condition, the cancer may spread to the liver. If this occurs, a person will begin to have some of the symptoms of liver failure, such as jaundice. Jaundice is a condition wherein the eyes and skin of a person begin to have a yellowish tint to them. It occurs because of the bilirubin that builds up in the blood from the liver's inability to filter it properly. In mild cases of jaundice, a doctor may recommend that their patient spend time in the sun because sunlight helps to treat the condition. However, this won't be helpful if cancer is present because the liver will be too badly damaged.
Since many of these signs of stomach cancer are also indicators of other illnesses, it is best to not attempt to diagnose yourself with this condition even if you have one or more of the above mentioned symptoms. The only sure way to know if a person has any form of cancer in their body is to perform specific tests that can detect it, such as abdominal x-rays, blood work, or exploratory surgery to visually inspect the stomach. So always contact your doctor right away to set up an appointment for a medical evaluation if you have any concerns.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.