November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month; the objective of Stomach Cancer Awareness Month is to spread awareness about stomach cancer & spotlight the survivorship issues related to stomach cancer.

WHAT IS CANCER:-

Cancer is considered as a heterogeneous, multi-faceted group of disease, which can develop in any organ or tissue of body. Here we find uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, invading to adjoining tissues even spreading to distant parts. Cancerous tumors are also called as malignant tumors. Many cancers form solid tumors, but in Leukemia i.e. Blood Cancer there is no tumor.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, accounting for an estimated 9.6 million deaths, or one in six deaths, in 2018. Lung, prostate, colorectal, stomach and liver cancer are the most common types of cancer in men, while breast, colorectal, lung, cervical and thyroid cancer are the most common among women.

WHAT IS STOMACH:-

·         The stomach is a bean shaped muscular hollow organ, located on the left side of upper abdomen. Hollow organ in the upper abdomen, under the ribs

·         It receives food from Esophagus

·         Partial digestion of food takes place here.

·         Layers of Stomach :

1.       Inner layer – where most stomach cancer begins

2.      Submucosa – support tissue for the inner layer Muscle layer – create a rippling motion that mixes and mashes food

3.      Sub-serosa – support tissue for the outer layer

4.      Outer layer(serosa) – covers the stomach and hold it in place

Stomach Cancer: - Stomach tumor can grow through stomach’s outer layer into nearby organs (such as the pancreas, esophagus or intestine) and Lymph Node. Cancer spreads through the blood to the liver, lungs and other organs, also spread through the lymphatic system to lymph nodes and all over the body.

MOST COMMON SITES:-

·         Antrum 48%

·         40% was found to be in the body

·         10% was found to be in the proximal stomach

EPIDEMIOLOGY:-

·         Fourth most common cancer in the world

·         Second most common cause of cancer related death

·         Marked geographic variation

·         High risk areas : Japan, Korea, Latin America, USSR

·         Low risk areas: USA, Israel, Kuwait, Canada

CLASSIFICATION FOR STOMACH CANCER

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS:-

·         Peptic ulcer symptoms :- Symptoms such as Burning stomach pain, feeling of fullness, bloating or belching, Intolerance to fatty foods, Heartburn, Nausea

·         Nausea: - increased feeling of vomiting tendency.

·         Anorexia :- Loss of appetite

·         Early satiety: - Feeling of fullness after having little food, unable to eat full meal.

·         Abdominal pain or persistent discomfort above the naval.

·         Gastrointestinal blood loss, primary gastric carcinoma and secondary gastric lymphoma are likely to be the origin of hemorrhage and GIT bleeding.

·         Weight loss ; Fatigue; constipation; mouth ulcer

·        Dysphagia

RISK FACTORS:-

·         Male over 55years of age

·         Acquired High salt consumption

·         High nitrate consumption

·         Poor food preparation (smoked, salt cured)

·         Diet low in Vitamin A and C

·         Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption

·         Helicobacter Pylori infection leads 3- 6 folds increase in risk of gastric cancer

·         Chronic gastritis

·         Pernicious anemia(vit.B-12 deficiency)

·         Family history of gastric cancer

SCREENING & DETECTION:-

·         Scans-These include USG, MRI or CT scans.

·         Complete blood count.

·         Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy(EGD) with biopsy

·         Stool test to check for blood in stools.

TREATMENT:-

1.       Surgery: - Sub-total Gastrectomy, Total Gastrectomy, removal of lymph nodes.

2.      Chemotherapy:-

·         HIPEC: - This type of chemotherapy is called Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy that only goes in the belly.

·         Chemotherapy that travels through the  whole body; is called systemic chemotherapy

3.     Radiation therapy

4.     Targeted therapy

5.     Immunotherapy

6.      Ayurveda: - According to Ayurvedic principles, a successful treatment for cancer patients can be done if the levels of imbalance among the body constituents i.e. Dosh, Dhatu & Mala, is well understood and accordingly plan of treatment is processed.

Withania somifera, Plumbago Rosea, Semecarpus Anacardium, Achyranthes Aspera, Saraca Asoka, Hemidesmus Indicus, Pandanus Odoratissimus, Curcuma Longa, Tinospora Codrifolia, Commiphora Mukul and many more . These herbs have anti-oxidants which help removal of free radicals and also toxins. This in turns restores & strengthens the organs and organ system, thus quality of life of a Cancer patient gets remodeled for Good.

Giving Up Is Never an Option!