The stomach is a muscular pouch that sits between the oesophagus (food pipe) and the small intestine. It breaks down food through acid and digestive enzymes. Stomach cancer (gastric cancer) begins in the cells lining the stomach. The most common type — gastric adenocarcinoma — develops from the mucus-producing gland cells of the stomach lining. Less common types include gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) and gastric lymphomas. Stomach cancer can spread to regional lymph nodes, the liver, peritoneum (abdominal lining), and lungs.
📄 Barreeffama Barnoota Dhukkubsattootaa NCCN
Stomach Cancer
H. pylori infection is the key modifiable risk factor — early symptoms matter
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🌍 Haala Itoophiyaa fi Afrikaa Bahaatiif kan qophaa'e
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👨⚕️ Garee Sile Cancer
📖 What Is Stomach Cancer?
🔍 Warning Signs & Symptoms
Early stomach cancer rarely causes symptoms. When they occur, they are often vague. Seek medical evaluation for persistent symptoms such as:
- Persistent indigestion, heartburn, or stomach discomfort not relieved by antacids
- Feeling full quickly after eating small amounts (early satiety)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain or discomfort, especially after eating
- Black, tarry stools or vomiting blood (suggests bleeding from a stomach tumour)
- Swallowing difficulty (if cancer is at the junction of the oesophagus and stomach)
- Persistent fatigue due to anaemia from chronic blood loss
🩺 Diagnosis
Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (gastroscopy): a thin flexible camera is passed through the mouth into the stomach, allowing direct visualisation and biopsy of suspicious areas — this is the definitive diagnostic test. Biopsy samples are examined by a pathologist and also tested for H. pylori infection. CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis assesses the extent of disease. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) determines how deeply the tumour has invaded the stomach wall. PET scan and laparoscopy may be used to rule out small peritoneal deposits.
📊 Cancer Staging
Stomach cancer is staged using the TNM system: Stage I: Cancer confined to the inner layers of the stomach wall. Stage II: Cancer has penetrated deeper or spread to a limited number of nearby lymph nodes. Stage III: Cancer has grown through the stomach wall and/or spread to more lymph nodes or adjacent organs. Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs (liver, lungs, peritoneum). The peritoneum (abdominal lining) is a common site of spread; peritoneal metastases significantly limit surgical options.
💊 Treatment Options
NCCN Guidelines recommend a multimodal approach:
- Surgery (gastrectomy) — Partial or total removal of the stomach; the primary curative treatment for localised disease
- Perioperative chemotherapy — FLOT regimen (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, folinic acid, fluorouracil) before and after surgery improves survival
- Adjuvant chemoradiation — Fluorouracil-based chemotherapy with radiation after surgery for node-positive disease
- Ramucirumab (anti-VEGFR2) — Second-line option for advanced disease
- Trastuzumab (Herceptin) — For HER2-positive advanced stomach cancer
- Nivolumab or pembrolizumab — Immunotherapy for PD-L1 positive and MSI-H advanced gastric cancer
- Palliative surgery — To relieve obstruction or bleeding in unresectable disease
🛡️ Prevention — Diet & H. pylori Treatment
H. pylori eradication: if tested positive for H. pylori (by breath test, stool antigen test, or endoscopy biopsy), a 14-day course of triple therapy (two antibiotics + a proton pump inhibitor) eliminates the bacteria and significantly reduces gastric cancer risk. Dietary measures: increase consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables (rich in antioxidants and vitamin C); reduce intake of salt-preserved, pickled, and smoked foods; eat dried grains and legumes from clean, sealed storage to avoid aflatoxin. Avoid tobacco. Seek endoscopy for any persistent upper abdominal symptoms.
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Hubachiisa Yaalaa
Barreeffamni kun kaayyoo barnootaa qofaaf. Qajeelfamoota NCCN Dhukkubsattootaaf® fi gorsa WHO yeroo ammaa irratti hundaa'ee haala Itoophiyaa fi Afrikaa Bahaatiif qophaa'e. Gorsa, adda baasuu ykn yaalii ogeessa fayyaa dandeettii qabuu bakka hin bu'u. Dhukkubsattoonni Itoophiyaa yaaliif Muummee Onkoloojii Hospitaala Addaa Tikur Anbessaa, Finfinnee, mariisisuu qabu.