Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

Stomach Cancer Where is the stomach located?  The stomach is a pouchlike organ which makes up a relatively small part of the intestinal tract. It lies below the diaphragm in the left upper part of the abdomen, crossing over to the right below the liver. The stomach hangs comparatively free in the abdominal cavity and moves with breathing. What symptoms indicate the possibility of stomach cancer?  Unfortunately, the symptoms of stomach cancer are often vague and nonspecific. The most common symptom of stomach cancer is indigestion. This may consist of a sense of discomfort or mild pain, fullness or bloating, burping, slight nausea, heartburn, or loss of appetite. Of course these are signs which we find easy to ignore, but if they persist even intermittently for a period of 2 weeks, your doctor should be consulted. Later signs might include blood in the stools or vomiting, rapid weight loss, and severe pain. These symptoms may also indicate the presence of an ulcer. ...

Stomach Cancer Let's first understand what is meant by a cancer. It is a malignant (bad or fatal) tumor (growth or swelling). This lump or sore arises for reasons we don't know and spreads from the original spot to neighboring tissues. It can compress, bend, or extend to other organs and interfere with their function. The single most important feature about a cancer is that it spreads (metastasizes) through the vascular system to organs remote from where it starts. Most often it spreads to the liver and the lungs. A cancer whose growth cannot 'be arrested ultimately causes the death of its host. Cancer of the stomach is particularly difficult to recognize. The earliest symptoms of the disease are so vague and indefinite that the patient's own awareness of being sick can be tardy. Thus, one third of the patients when first seen are already at a stage beyond the possibility of salvage. The other unfortunate fact about stomach cancer is that it spreads widely; that i...