Stomach cancer: symptoms not to be underestimated for an early diagnosis. Discover the signs not to ignore.
Il stomach cancer, although not among the most common in Italy, still represents a serious threat to health. Early diagnosis is essential to increase the chances of successful treatment, which is why it is important to recognize symptoms early.
Signs not to be underestimated
In the early stages, stomach cancer can manifest itself with vague symptoms common to other pathologies, such as:
Persistent indigestion: Digestive difficulties that continue over time, feeling of heaviness or abdominal swelling even after light meals. This is not just occasional heartburn, but a frequent and annoying disorder.
Epigastric pain: A discomfort or burning sensation located in the upper part of the abdomen, under the sternum, which may appear as a sensation of fullness or burning similar to that of a peptic ulcer. The pain may be intermittent or constant, and worsen with food or drink.
Loss of appetite: Unjustified decrease in the desire to eat, which leads to involuntary weight loss even if you are not following a particular diet. There loss of appetite it can be associated with a feeling of early satiety, even after consuming small quantities of food.
Nausea and vomit: Frequent episodes of nausea, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, even with traces of blood. Vomiting can be food-related, contain partially digested food, or appear as a “jet”, i.e. without effort and in large quantities, especially in the morning on an empty stomach.
Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing solid foods, which can get stuck in the esophagus, causing a “lump in the throat” sensation. Dysphagia is a late symptom, which appears when the tumor has reached a size that obstructs the passage of food.
Other possible symptoms:
Blood in stool: It can present as bright red blood in the stool, or as dark, tarry stool (melena), due to the presence of digested blood. The presence of blood in the stool is an important symptom that requires immediate medical attention.
Tiredness and fatigue: A sense of exhaustion and lack of energy that does not improve with rest, persistent even in the absence of physical activity or other factors that could cause tiredness.
Hypercalcemia: An excessive increase in calcium levels in the blood, which can cause muscle cramps, mental confusion, cardiac arrhythmias and other disorders. Hypercalcemia is a rare but serious symptom that may be associated with advanced stomach cancers.
Read also: What foods fill your belly but don’t make you fat?
When to worry
If one or more of these symptoms occurs frequently and persistently, it is important to consult your doctor for thorough monitoring. It is not necessary to wait until all the symptoms are present to contact the doctor, as early diagnosis is essential for the success of treatment.
How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
Stomach cancer is diagnosed through a series of tests, including:
Gastroscopy: An endoscopic examination that allows you to view the inside of the stomach and take tissue samples for biopsy. A biopsy is the definitive test for diagnosing stomach cancer.
Blood tests: To look for the presence of tumor specific antigens (CEA) or other tumor markers. Blood tests can be useful for monitoring response to therapies.
CT scan or MRI: To evaluate the extent of the tumor and the presence of metastases to lymph nodes, liver, peritoneum or other organs. The images obtained with CT or Magnetic Resonance Imaging can help define the stage of the tumor and plan treatment.
Recognizing the symptoms promptly and undergoing the appropriate diagnostic tests is essential to increase the chances of treatment and improve the prognosis of stomach cancer.
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