By Evangeline T. Capuno
November is the time to start your holidays. It’s the season when Filipinos are commencing eating here and there – in preparation of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Thus, it is the right time to raise awareness about gastric cancer.
While most Filipinos know of peptic ulcer, which is treatable, not too many are aware of gastric cancer, more popularly known as stomach cancer. It has something to do with the foods you eat.
So many famous men and women died of gastric cancer. Ronnie James Dio, the lead singer of the band Black Sabbath in 1980, cancelled a tour after revealing in 2009 he was fighting stomach cancer; he died less than a year later. Michelle Thomas, who appeared on The Cosby Show and Family Matters, had a tumor removed from her stomach in 1997 and died after the cancer came back the following year.
In the months leading up to this death in 1821, Napoleon Bonaparte had severe abdominal pain, pain, vomiting, and serious weight loss – classic symptoms of stomach cancer. An autopsy showed a large tumor in his stomach.
Stomach cancer can only be treated if discovered early. In 1975, at only 43, Peter O’Toole had a bout with stomach cancer. The Irish actor who received eight Oscar nominations including his masterful performances in Lawrence of Arabia, The Lion in Winter and Goodbye Mr. Chips survived it. He admitted to stopping drinking after having that major operation in his stomach.
November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month. One of its objectives is to raise awareness and support efforts to educate people about stomach cancer, including risk factors, prevention, and early detection.
Although stomach cancer is on a steady decline in the United States since the 1930s, it is still one of the top cancers that strikes Filipinos. Among men, the stomach is one of the five common sites of cancer, along with lung, liver, colon/rectum, and prostate, according to the Department of Health (DOH). For every 100,000 Filipinos, 189 are afflicted with cancer, while four Filipinos die of cancer every hour or 96 cancer patients every day, reported a study conducted by the University of the Philippines’ Institute of Human Genetics, National Institutes of Health.
Most Filipinos are not aware of stomach cancer. In fact, there is no data of how many Filipinos are afflicted with the disease. “Our low rate of stomach cancer is the reason it is often deadly,” surmised Dr. Charles Chante in his Philippine Star column.
“Because it is not a major public health threat, we spend little money on early detection or public-awareness programs, and, as a result, stomach cancer is rarely caught in the early stages when it is more easily curable,” Dr. Chante wrote. “That’s why it is so important that people who are at risk for stomach cancer become aware of the symptoms, so they can monitor themselves for early signs.”
Signs and symptoms
Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Mohamad (Bassam) Sonbol, an oncologist, shares that the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer may include trouble swallowing, belly pain, feeling bloated after eating, feeling full after eating small amounts of food, not feeling hungry when you would expect to be hungry, and heartburn.
Other symptoms are indigestion, nausea, vomiting, losing weight without trying, feeling very tired, and stools that look black.
“Stomach cancer doesn’t always cause symptoms in its early stages,” Dr. Sonbol said. “When they happen, symptoms might include indigestion and pain in the upper part of the belly.”
Symptoms might not happen until the cancer is advanced.
“Stomach cancer that spreads to other parts of the body is called metastatic stomach cancer,” Dr. Sonbol explained. “It causes symptoms specific to where it spreads. For example, when cancer spreads to the lymph nodes it might cause lumps, you can feel through the skin. Cancer that spreads to the liver might cause yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. If cancer spreads within the belly, it might cause fluid to fill the belly. The belly might look swollen.”
Dr. Sonbol advised that if you think you have signs and symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor immediately. “Many conditions can cause symptoms that are like the ones caused by stomach cancer,” he said. “Your doctor might test for those other causes first before testing for stomach cancer.”
Treatments
The treatment of stomach cancer depends largely on where the cancer is in the stomach and how far it has spread, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). But other factors, such as a person’s age, overall health, and preferences, can be important as well.
“Stomach cancer typically starts in the inner lining of the stomach,” the ACS stated. “From there, it can grow and spread in different ways. It can grow through the wall of the stomach and into nearby organs. It might also spread to the nearby lymph nodes.”
As the cancer becomes more advanced, it can travel through the bloodstream or lymph system and spread/metastasize to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones, which can make it harder to treat.
The ACS said surgery to remove the cancer is typically part of treatment if it can be done, as it offers the best chance for long-term survival. But surgery might not be a good option if the cancer has spread widely or if a person isn’t healthy enough for it.
Other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often part of treatment as well, either along with, or instead of surgery. Newer treatments such as targeted drugs and immunotherapy might be helpful in some situations as well.
“Because most people will get different types of treatment for their cancer, it’s important that a team of doctors review and discuss the best options for treatment,” the ACS pointed out. – ###
