Don’t ignore these stomach cancer warning signs
Certain warning signs of stomach cancer can easily be mistaken for smaller health issues.
Stomach pain, one of the more prominent signs of stomach cancer, is not a common early warning sign. According to Dr Umut Sarpel, an associate professor and surgical oncologist at New York’s Mount Sinai Health System, stomach cancer – one of the most painful forms of cancer – can often have no symptoms whatsoever: “We all get stomachaches from time to time, and that can make people worry about stomach cancer,” he explained. “But it’s not one of the most common cancers, and in most cases stomach aches or pain are not going to be the result of cancer.”
Each year, around 6,700 Brits are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year, making it the 16th most common cancer in the UK. Even though the number of cases has decreased by 48% since the ’90’s, the survival rate is only 15%.
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The good news is that the prevention rate is 75%, as the Daily Star reports. In order to prevent this nefarious disease, look out for these signs:
1. Loss of appetite
If feeling hungry before lunch but being unable to eat more than a few bites sounds familiar, you should probably visit your GP.
2. Blood in your stool or vomit
Although blood in your stool might point to other diseases, you still need to make a trip to the doctor. Dr Umut said that if it is cancer-related, the blood in your stool will look maroon or tarry black, while the blood in your vomit will look red with a coarse texture.
3. Relentless heartburn
If heartburn and indigestion happen to you constantly, something might be playing up in your stomach.
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4. Bloating, diarrhoea and constipation
If there is a growth in your stomach, you’ll probably feel bloated and your bowel movements will be disrupted.
5. Unexplained weight loss
“If you’re losing weight and not dieting, that’s something to pay attention to,” Umut said. Weight loss could be gradual, so stepping on a scale every once in a while might be useful even when you are not dieting.
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