Stomach Cancer
Thomas Edison rightly said, ‘The doctor of the future will no longer treat human frames with drugs but will rather cure and prevent disease with nutrition.’ A healthy and a balanced diet is the key to good health. But the introduction of fast food and street food has caused immense destruction to health. One such predominant disease that has evolved due to poor and incorrect diet is ‘Stomach Cancer’ or ‘Gastric Cancer’.
Raising and spreading awareness about stomach cancer is quintessential for the current generation. The month of November is well known as the National Stomach Cancer Awareness month.
As per the World Cancer Research statistics Month, Stomach cancer is the 5th most common cancer worldwide. There were more than 1 million new cases of stomach cancer in 2020 and this number is gradually increasing due to the continuous poor eating habits.
What is Gastric Cancer?
The food we eat reaches the stomach through the Oesophagus. The stomach is located in the upper portion of the abdomen. It is here where the food is broken into simpler particles. Generally, cancer is developed in the area where the Oesophagus transitions into the stomach. Apart from this, cancer that is developed in the internal lining of the stomach is also diagnosed as stomach cancer or Gastric Cancer.
What leads to Stomach cancer?
- Heavy consumption of smoked and salty food, pickled or processed food.
- Low consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables
- Consumption of tobacco
- Consumption of alcohol
- Obesity
- H pylori infection
- A family history of stomach cancer
What are the signs of stomach cancer?
- A painful or burning sensation in the stomach
- Fatigue and unexplained weakness
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- A sense of fullness, even after a small meal
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Loss of appetite and/or weight loss
- Unexplained tiredness or weakness
- Blood in vomit
- Black-coloured feces.
Preventive measures
Consume a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits containing Vitamin C help boost immunity.
Treating H pylori infection at an early stage with the help of antibiotics. This prevents the risk of developing cancer in the stomach
If there is a history of stomach cancer, consult a genetic specialist and understand the risks
Regular exercise to control obesity and weight gain
Be vigilant about any signs or symptoms. Early detection can prove to be very beneficial.
The chances of recovery are more at the early stage.
Stomach cancer develops over a long period of time. So awareness programmes are conducted so that individuals understand and take preventive measures at the earliest. For more accurate information or to assess your risk get in touch with the Neogen Care expert team. As they say, Prevention is better than cure. Neogencare has spread its wings to Trivandrum as a home care health agency.