The stomach is a muscular organ located in the left side of the upper abdomen. This organ secretes acid and enzymes that digest food and passes its contents to the small intestine. The three main parts of the stomach are the fundus, the body, and the antrum that connect the stomach to the small intestine. Stomach cancer usually begins in cells in the inner layer of the stomach. Over time, the cancer may invade more deeply into the stomach wall. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth, polyp, or tumor that can occur because of patient lifestyle and diet, aging, family history, stomach infection, polyp, or other stomach disorders.
Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms may not occur in the early stages of the disease. Or, patients may self-treat symptoms that gastric cancer has in common with other, less serious gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, gas, heartburn, and a sense of fullness). The following tests can help diagnose gastric cancer:
Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy to examine the stomach tissue Stool test to check for blood in the stoolsGastric cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. This disease occurs 40 percent in the lower part, 40 percent in the middle part, 10 percent in the upper part, and it is combination in 10 percent of cases. The type of surgery for stomach cancer depends mainly on where the cancer is located. The surgeon may remove the whole stomach or only the part that has the cancer.
Partial gastrectomy: The surgeon removes the lower part of the stomach with the cancer and nearby lymph nodes and other tissues. The surgeon attaches the remaining part of the stomach to the intestine.
Total gastrectomy: The surgeon removes the entire stomach, nearby lymph nodes, parts of the esophagus and small intestine, and other tissues near the tumor. Rarely, the spleen also may be removed. The surgeon then connects the esophagus directly to the small intestine.