[ A MUST READ] Early Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is a form of cancer found anywhere in the stomach. It's not as common as other forms of cancer.

Nevertheless, this doesn't mean that one should remain ignorant of the symptoms, some of which a person could mistake for other conditions.

The stomach is a crucial part of the digestive system, it is where the body breaks down foods after they’ve been eaten. 

Cancer Research UK says 54 percent of stomach cancer cases are preventable. Meanwhile, Macmillan Cancer Research says there are three symptoms of stomach cancer that “can be like symptoms of common stomach conditions”. The symptoms include: 

• Heartburn that doesn’t go away

• Weight loss 

• Loss of appetite.

These are not the only symptoms of stomach cancer.

What makes these notable is that if a person suffers them, they may think it is a non-cancerous condition and may not consider the possibility that it could be a more maleficent condition.

Stomach cancer has a wider range of symptoms.

As well as heartburn, indigestion, weight loss and loss of appetite, stomach cancer can also cause repeated belching or burping and the sensation of feeling full after eating a small amount of food.

Other symptoms that stomach cancer sufferers can experience are:

• Swelling or pain in the upper abdomen
• Vomiting
• Dysphagia (Difficulty swallowing)
• Dark faeces
• Feeling fatigued

*Difficult Breathing
• Hiccupping in great amounts

While it is important to remember that some conditions that would otherwise be signs of non-cancerous conditions can be cancerous, it is also important to note that not all symptoms of cancer mean a person has cancer.

What is crucial is that if a person has any concerns that they may have cancer they should get it checked.

It is far better to go through the rigmarole of getting checked and find out it is nothing than to leave it and then find out that it’s actually cancerous further down the line.

Any concerns about cancer should be directed to your GP or the NHS.

Returning to stomach cancer, one of the main problems is that doctors don’t know what causes it.

There are a number of risk factors that can impact a person’s likelihood of developing the condition.

Smoking, as it is with most cancers, is on the list of things that increase one’s risk of developing cancer.

So too is your gender with men twice as likely as women to get stomach cancer.

Age is another factor with over half of stomach cancer patients aged 75 or over.

Other risk factors that can affect a person’s risk of stomach cancer are a person’s diet, whether they’re overweight or not and the existence of other stomach conditions.