Early warning signs of cancer in the stomach area
Headline: Early Detection Key to Improved Outlook for Stage 1 Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a type of cancer that develops in the stomach. In the UK, an estimated 26,500 new diagnoses of stomach cancer are expected in 2023.
The good news is that when detected early, the outlook for stage 1 stomach cancer is favorable. Early signs and symptoms may include indigestion, stomach discomfort or pain, being full quickly when eating, bloating or frequent belching, mild nausea, reduced appetite, and heartburn. If you are experiencing these symptoms, especially if they are reoccurring or do not go away, it is important to see a doctor.
Stage 1 stomach cancer means the cancer is confined to the stomach lining or just into the stomach wall, without extensive spread. This makes treatment, often surgery, more effective and leads to higher survival rates. The five-year survival rate for stage 1 stomach cancer is generally around 70-80%, a significant improvement compared to later stages. Some data specify this as approximately 65% or higher for early localized stages, and curative surgery can increase survival rates further, with one source noting up to about 93.6% for very localized tumors without lymph node spread (stage IA).
In contrast, more advanced stages have much lower survival rates; overall stomach cancer five-year survival is about 30% in developed countries but drops drastically with progression.
In the United States, over 127,000 people were living with stomach cancer in 2020. Doctors use a cancer staging system called TNM to understand the spread of stomach cancer in a person's body. Stomach cancer stages run from 0 to 4, with lower numbers indicating less spread. If nearby lymph nodes have been affected, they will also be removed during surgery.
The duration of stage 1 cancer is different for everyone and depends on several factors such as the type of cancer, the location of the tumor, and the person's overall health and age. In some very early-stage, small cancers, a surgeon may perform the surgery using an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube inserted down the throat and into the stomach.
It is crucial to remember that early detection is an important factor in improving a person's outlook. If you are experiencing symptoms, don't hesitate to seek medical advice.
References
- American Cancer Society
- Cancer Research UK
- Mayo Clinic
- Stomach Cancer Foundation
- World Cancer Research Fund International
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