A cancer that develops from the inner lining of the stomach. It causes bloating stomach pain, difficulty in swallowing, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and weight loss.

Symptoms & Reports

• Fatigue
• Stomach pain, which worsens after eating
• Bloating of stomach, especially after eating
• Feeling of stomach fullness, even after eating very little
• Severe and persistent heartburn
• Severe and persistent indigestion
• Persistent nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Unintentional weight Loss

Causes

• Cancer is generally the result of a genetic change that occurs in the cells, which leads to continuous division of cells
• Factors influencing genetic changes in cells of stomach include
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or backflow of stomach contents into esophagus
• Family history
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Increased intake of smoked and salted food
• Reduced intake of fruits and vegetables
• Helicobacter pylori infection
• Eating food contaminated by fungal toxin, especially aflatoxin
• Stomach polyps
• Pernicious anaemia resulting from poor absorption of vitamin B12 by the intestines
• Alcohol abuse

Prevention

• Have a regular exercise regimen
• Include fruits and vegetables in your everyday diet
• Reduce the intake of smoked and salty foods
• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy height-to-weight ratio
• Treat stomach infections
• Avoid overuse of aspirin or NSAIDs

Screening Options available at JNCHRC

• Blood test: To check for anaemia and infections.
• Endoscopy: Inserting a thin tube with a tiny camera into the stomach to examine the inside.
• Barium swallow: A series of X-rays of the stomach is taken after you swallow liquid barium to look for the stomach cancer.
• Biopsy: A small sample of the mass is sent for microscopic examination to check for the type and severity of cancer.
• Laparoscopy: To check if the cancer has spread beyond the oesophagus or stomach.