Stomach cancer or gastric cancers are the disease of middle and old age. Most patients need surgery either to cure cancer or to bypass the cancer so that the patient can eat normally. These surgeries can be performed by conventional open method or using robot or laparoscopy. Robotic and Laparoscopic surgeries have definite advantage over open surgery (listed bellow). The surgery could be total or subtotal gastrectomy or gastro-jejunostomy. Most of the patients either need chemotherapy before or after surgery. However, avoiding surgery is not an option. When we use robot or laparoscopy the trauma is much less, making the recovery quicker and treatment more acceptable
Symptoms related to early stomach cancer are few and are very often confused with gastritis. These may include:
- Indigestion and stomach discomfort
- A bloated feeling after eating
- Mild nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Heartburn
These symptoms are similar to those caused by a peptic ulcer. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should see your health care provider so that a proper diagnosis can be made and timely treatment given. An endoscopy test along with biopsy when these symptoms occur can diagnose stomach cancer.
In more advanced cancer, you may have:
- Discomfort in the upper or middle part of the abdomen.
- Blood in the stool (which appears as black, tarry stools).
- Vomiting or vomiting blood.
- Weight loss.
- Pain or bloating in the stomach after eating
- Weakness or fatigue associated with mild anemia (a deficiency in red blood cells).