Introduction

Stomach cancers are caused by abnormal cell growth that begins in the stomach, says an oncologist in Kolkata.


It is difficult to identify stomach cancer since it grows slowly over time and patients do not necessarily have symptoms in its early stages; thus, it often remains undiscovered.

Although the global incidence of stomach cancer has decreased, it remains the fourth most frequent cancer in India.

stomach cancer treatment

 

However, gastric or stomach cancer is sometimes linked to established risk factors that raise a person's likelihood of acquiring the illness. Knowing the risk factors for stomach cancer is an excellent first step to reduce the risk of developing it.

Some risk factors, such as family history, are beyond your control; however, other risk factors, like as diet and cigarette use, are under your control.

It is critical to remember that eliminating risk factors does not ensure that you will not develop cancer but it does significantly reduce your risk of developing it, says the cancer doctor in Kolkata.

Preventing Stomach Cancer

You can reduce your risks of having stomach cancer by taking the following precautions:

A nutritious diet

Consuming meals high in fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C may reduce your risk of developing stomach cancer.

Reduce salt intake

Restrict or minimize the quantity of salt added to your diet as excessive salt consumption has been established as a risk factor for stomach cancer.

Quit smoking

This is perhaps the most important decision you can make for your health. 

Not smoking lowers the chance of numerous cancers, including stomach, head and neck, throat, oesophagus, lung, bladder, kidney and pancreas cancer, says the cancer surgeon in Kolkata.

Get to a healthy weight

Being obese can be a risk factor of developing stomach cancer as it is seen that a lot of stomach cancer patients are obese. If you are obese or overweight, speak with your doctor about measures to help you lose weight. Try not to establish unrealistic objectives for yourself; everyone requires a different length of time to lose weight.

Talk to your doctor about your risks of having stomach cancer, especially if you have a family history of this disease, because you may have inherited the DNA. It would help if you visit your doctor, who will do tests such as an endoscopy to search for signs and symptoms of stomach cancer, says the cancer doctor in Kolkata.

Conclusion

According to experts, the earlier stomach cancer is discovered and treated, the better the chances of a five-year survival rate. 

As previously stated, there are practically no evident signs of stomach cancer in its early stages. Even if symptoms do exist, they may be difficult to identify and differentiate from gastrointestinal disorders. 

Some frequent signs to look out for include: trouble swallowing, stomach soreness, weariness, constipation, black faeces, abdominal swelling, feeling bloated and so on. 

As a result, you should see a doctor if you have any gastrointestinal discomfort that occurs frequently, says the oncologist in Kolkata.