8 Early Warning Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Even though nowadays, stomach cancer is considered as one-fourth common condition as it was 70 years ago, there were 24,000 new cases every year in the United States. If it is caught early, it is considered that even 90% is the five-year survival rate.

Unfortunately, the disease firstly spreads throughout the stomach and to other organs before the symptoms occur. But, when cancer reaches its advanced stage, you can no longer treat cancer, and the five-year survival rate decreases to 3 %.

So, the question is how to prevent this silent killer before it attacks you?

We recommend you to find out more about the risk factors and warning symptoms of stomach cancer. In most cases, stomach cancer is hard to detect due to the fact that when the symptoms occur, usually they are mild and the person ignores them.

The American Cancer Society assumes that these are the symptoms of stomach cancer:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Indigestion or heartburn
• Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness and fatigue
• Bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool)
• Bloating of the stomach after meals

Most common factors that increase the risk of developing stomach cancer:

• Gender (males are two-thirds more likely than women)
• Age (over 55)
• Smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol
• Diet high in foods that are dried, salted, pickled, or smoked
• Previous stomach surgery
• Presence of bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the stomach, which can cause ulcers
• Family history

Note: If you notice some of these signs, or you think that you have increased risk of developing stomach cancer, it is very important to consult your doctor which can suggest a gastroenterologist (a physician specialized in digestive disorders) for further evaluation.

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