“Warning Signs of Stomach Cancer: Symptoms to Watch for”

2023-05-17 14:33:23

1. ovb-online-de
2. Life
3. Health

Created: 05/18/2023, 07:45 am

Von: Natalie Hull Drawbar

Split

If a tumor in the stomach is detected early, the chances of recovery are good. If you notice the typical signs for more than four to eight weeks, you should have them checked out by a doctor.

1 / 14Anyone who notices that their favorite foods, such as the schnitzel or the daily coffee, suddenly no longer taste good should definitely observe how long this feeling and condition lasts. According to the German Cancer Research Center, stomach cancer patients report that they suddenly developed an aversion to certain foods such as meat and drinks months before the diagnosis. © Lian Fei/Imago

2 / 14A recurring and persistent feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen can indicate a serious illness such as stomach cancer – stomach pain is one of the typical early symptoms. © YAY Images/Imago

3 / 14Due to the feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen, it is not untypical that those affected often have to burp uncomfortably, and not just immediately after eating and drinking. © Thomas Trutschel/photothek/Imago

4 / 14About 40 to 70 percent of people who develop stomach cancer experience frequent nausea, especially after eating. If this early symptom occurs regularly and over a period of weeks, you should see a doctor. © AndreyPopov/Imago

5 / 14Due to the nausea, those affected with an emerging stomach tumor often have a persistent loss of appetite, so that they eat significantly less food. © Monkey Business 2/Imago

6 / 14Anyone who notices that they are also no longer able to swallow well and are therefore unable to eat and drink should see a doctor for clarification. Difficulty swallowing can indicate a tumor disease, but the cause can also be different in each case. © seacat/Imago

7 / 14These are complaints that probably everyone has had and knows: a feeling of fullness after eating. If it occurs regularly or lasts longer and if there is pain and a feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen, it can also be caused by a disease such as gastritis or even stomach cancer. © Thunderstock/Imago

8 / 14Constant heartburn can be a sign and trigger of stomach cancer. On the one hand, heartburn can be a symptom of a stomach tumor if the tumor is already so large that it presses on the stomach. As a trigger for stomach cancer, heartburn leads to a change in the mucous membrane cells, which can degenerate into cancer cells due to the constant irritation. © Igor Stevanovic/Imago

9 / 14If the nausea and stomach pains are accompanied by flatulence, which is sometimes painful, this could be a sign of a disease such as stomach cancer. © psodaz/Imago

10 / 14Those affected notice bad breath in themselves or are asked about it by relatives. If you notice a difference from the bad yourself – even though your oral hygiene is consistently good – you should contact your family doctor and, if necessary, a gastroenterologist. A gastroscopy to check for tumor growth in the stomach could be useful. © Naoki Nishimura/AFLO/Imago

11 / 14About 30 percent of those affected who develop a stomach tumor also experience vomiting. This symptom can increase as the cancer progresses. © AndreyPopov/Imago

12 / 14Severe weight loss is not uncommon due to symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. But an unintentional weight loss is also a sign of stomach cancer. © Zoonar.com/Dasha Petrenko/Imago

13 / 14As with colorectal cancer, people who suffer from stomach cancer feel increasingly exhausted and tired as well as underperforming for a longer period of time – due to the growing tumor and the other symptoms. © Monkey Business 2/Imago

14 / 14If the stool is unusually dark in color, this could be a sign of bleeding in the stomach. For clarification, you should see a doctor who can examine the so-called “tarry stool” in order to make a diagnosis. © Lutz Wallroth/Imago

In Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) about 5,746 women and 9,131 men a year from gastric cancer. On average, men are affected at the age of 71 and women at the age of 76 – the risk of the disease increases with age. Although the chances of recovery are quite good if the tumor is discovered early, the warning signs of the disease are often not correctly interpreted by those affected and the visit to the doctor takes place very late. Around two thirds of all cases of the disease are only discovered at an advanced and inoperable stage.

It is all the more important to look out for possible signs and Symptoms such as difficulty swallowing to watch out for, especially if they last longer than four to eight weeks like that German Cancer Society enlightens.

Stomach cancer risk factors

In particular, infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori

Chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa

Anemia, so-called “pernicious anemia” due to vitamin B12 deficiency

gastric ulcer

Reflux

Diet with frequent consumption of highly salted foods and low consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit

Smoking

Regular and high alcohol consumption

genetic predisposition

Source: German Cancer Society

However, such symptoms do not always mean that a tumor disease of the stomach is present. All complaints can also have harmless causes. But this can only be determined by an appropriate examination for diagnostics – so it’s better to go to the doctor once too many times than not at all.

Knowing the risk of cancer: Eleven foods can promote tumor growth

View photo gallery

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editorial team cannot answer individual questions about clinical pictures.