Friday, February, 10, 2012

Gastric cancer

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Cancer - stomach; Stomach cancer; Gastric carcinoma; Adenocarcinoma of the stomach


Symptoms
  • Abdominal fullness or pain
  • Dark stools
  • Difficulty swallowing, especially if it increases over time
  • Excessive belching
  • General decline in health
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Premature abdominal fullness after meals
  • Vomiting blood
  • Weakness or fatigue
  • Weight loss (unintentional)

Signs and tests

Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms may not occur in the early stages of the disease. Or, patients may self-treat symptoms that gastric cancer has in common with other, less serious gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, gas, heartburn, and a sense of fullness).

The following tests can help diagnose gastric cancer:

  • Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy
  • Stool test to check for blood in the stools
  • Upper GI series

Review Date: 12/28/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)