Stomach cancer affects almost 27,000 people per year in the U.S. alone. Although stomach cancer is one of the less common cancers in the U.S., it is a threat to many people across the nation, including thousands in Texas.
Many people are not aware of how common this disease is. This is because it is not as well-known as breast or prostate cancer.
However, studies have shown that stomach cancer is far more deadly because it remains undiagnosed for a longer time. In the past, stomach cancer was considered an “elderly” disease. However, today, stomach cancer is being diagnosed in younger, healthy, active adults.
Research has proven that the five-year survival rate is considerably higher when the cancer is detected at an early stage.
As per the Functional Medicine Perspective, these changes are not random. Your body goes through several stages. And it often sends repeated symptoms before a condition worsens.
Therefore, it is vital to be aware of these stomach cancer symptoms.
What Exactly is Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer is also known as gastric cancer. It occurs when there are abnormal cells developing in the lining of your stomach. It is one of the five most prevalent forms of cancer worldwide. This type of cancer is more common in eastern Asia, eastern Europe, and certain regions of South America.
It slowly builds over the years. It starts with chronic irritation, inflammation, or infections like H. pylori. These changes may cause the stomach to change the way it operates and its interaction with the rest of the body in the long run.
However, not all stomach cancers act in the same manner. Stomach cancer behaves differently based on its location.
Upper stomach cancers, near the esophagus (gastroesophageal junction), have increased in incidence around the world. However, lower stomach cancers have now been decreasing in certain areas. This is mostly because of improved food preservation, decreased salt-rich diets, and the better management of Helicobacter pylori infections.
Stomach lining is damaged in the long run by using some acid-reducing medications and by consuming extremely large amounts of salt.
Its symptoms are usually similar to many digestive problems, that make it easy to misread. Below are some of the early stomach cancer symptoms.
1. You are Feeling Full Very Quickly
This is among the most ignored but common symptoms of stomach cancer. You begin to eat, and within a few bites, you are too full.
This is because your stomach is usually able to stretch to fit food. However, once an abnormal growth or thickenings occur in the stomach lining, it becomes less flexible. Even slight food portions can cause pressure and transmit the message to your brain that you are full.
You also might experience the presence of a heavy, tight, or blocked sensation in the upper stomach. It needs attention if:
- It occurs nearly at every meal, not by chance.
- You reduce your portion
- Your mind still wants to eat, but your body will not allow it.
- It lasts 2+ weeks continuously
2. Persistent Upper Abdominal Pain
This is not your ordinary heartburn or that acid feeling that happens after a heavy meal. It is the dull and constant pain in the upper part of your stomach, right under the ribcage. It may also feel like a burning or irritation. Usually, lasts for days or weeks, not just a few hours.
If it’s a stomach cancer symptom, it does not disappear with a change in diet or over-the-counter medication. And it might be worse after eating or still remain even on an empty stomach.
You can identify it when normal antacids or lighter food do not help it. And it keeps coming back.
The key is to understand that the initial stage of stomach cancer is unlikely to be followed by severe pain. It is rather a vague discomfort in your stomach. If you see continuous discomfort and any above symptoms, immediately consult with your healthcare provider.
3. Ongoing Nausea
During the early stages of stomach cancer, nausea is observed to be mild, chronic, and mostly occurs without a cause. You can experience a low grade of queasiness that does not go away. It may become more severe after eating, particularly after those meals that you normally eat.
Also, there may be bloating, a feeling of fullness, or slight pain in your upper abdomen.
You can recognize it when it is regular or not related to certain foods. And even anti-nausea medicines or just changing diet do not help.
Research also pointed out that many patients who are in the early stages complain of constant, mild nausea. Since it is mild, people tend to ignore it until other symptoms show.
4. Sudden Weight Loss
The loss of weight without any dieting or lifestyle change is never a good sign. Weight loss can be gradual in stomach cancer. It might not seem alarming to you at first. This occurs due to a decreased food intake as a result of anorexia nervosa and inefficient absorption of nutrients.
You can recognize its patterns when your scale is displaying a steady downward pattern, despite your eating patterns remaining the same. It usually accompanies other early signs such as early satiety, mild nausea, or chronic abdominal pain.
It is also researched that even unintentional weight loss of 5-10 percent in 6-12 months is an early warning in gastrointestinal cancers.
5. Constant Weakness and Fatigue
Fatigue is also one of the common early stomach cancer symptoms. However, this form of fatigue is not the same. Sleeping or drinking coffee will not help you to fix it. This is usually accompanied by other minor symptoms such as early satiety, slight nausea, stomach pain, or unintentional weight loss.
This occurs because early stomach cancer may result in a lack of nutrients, particularly iron, as a result of minor bleeding or poor absorption.
It is advisable to get checked when you feel more exhausted than normal, and you have been feeling so for weeks without a clear explanation.
Some other Symptoms that Appear Later
When your condition progresses, some of the other symptoms may become more obvious than these early signs, such as:
- Vomiting that contains blood or coffee-ground-like material
- Difficulty swallowing
- Dark stools (pointing to internal bleeding)
- Constant Bloating
- Severe abdominal pain
- Skin or eye yellowing in case cancer has spread to the liver or bile ducts
Medical care at this point is very urgent. The symptoms may be more evident and disturbing at later stages, but sadly, by the time they come, cancer is already progressing at an advanced stage.
Final Thoughts
Stomach cancer symptoms are usually silent. And they can be easily ignored, like some other problems. In case you observe any of the symptoms mentioned above, get checked immediately. Your healthcare provider can properly diagnose the issue using tests like an upper endoscopy, blood work, or a CT scan.
Early symptoms and diagnosis are essential because when stomach cancer is in its early stages, it can be cured easily. Many of these symptoms may point to less serious conditions. So, it is best to track your changes and seek evaluation to ensure prompt care and peace of mind.
At Kairos Integrative Care in Texas, we are here to help you with your stomach issues. Lola, one of our experienced functional nurse practitioners, is here to properly diagnose stomach problems and recommend a mix of therapies that would help resolve your problems.
