Gastric cancer – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, March 28, 2018 by Zoey Sky

Gastric cancer, which is also known as stomach cancer, is characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach lining.

Although gastric cancer is rarer compared to other types of cancer, it can be fatal since the disease is hard to diagnose. Because the early stages of gastric cancer usually don’t cause any early symptoms, it often goes undiagnosed until it has already spread to other parts of the body. This also makes gastric cancer more difficult to treat.

Known side effects of gastric cancer

Since individuals with gastric cancer rarely experience any early signs or symptoms, their condition may worsen until the disease is already at an advanced stage.

Below are some of the most common side effects of advanced gastric cancer:

Bloody stools
Constant bloating
Early satiety or feeling full after you’ve eaten only a small amount of food
Excessive fatigue
Frequent heartburn
Jaundice
Loss of appetite, which may be accompanied by sudden weight loss
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain (may be worse after meals)

Body systems harmed by gastric cancer

The complications associated with gastric cancer are two-fold. This means if the disease is not treated immediately, many complications are linked with disease progression.

These include:

Bleeding
Difficulty swallowing
Nausea
Pain
Weight loss
Vomiting

When gastric cancer spreads to the liver, it may cause complications like:

Ascites or fluid collection in the abdominal cavity
Fever
Malaise

Food items or nutrients that may prevent gastric cancer

The following foods and nutrients may help prevent gastric cancer:

Essiac tea — Essiac tea can help cure stomach cancer. Drink the tea with some honey and cinnamon. Essiac tea has anti-cancer properties that will help fight cancerous cells.
Green vegetables — Your diet should include a lot of green vegetables and salads. A “green diet” consumed in raw form will greatly contribute to the healing process. Sources include green vegetables like bottle guard, cucumber, mint, and spinach. These green vegetables will provide the body with iron, fiber, and vitamins.
Indian gooseberry — Also called amla, Indian gooseberry is a herb with cancer-preventing properties. The herb can be consumed either fresh/raw or cooked.
Omega-3 fatty acids — Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include canola oil, fatty fish (such as herring, mackerel, and salmon), flaxseed, flaxseed oil, and walnuts. Consuming enough foods rich in omega-3s can help prevent cancerous cells from multiplying.
Turmeric — The spice called turmeric has healing and antiseptic properties. This spice is good for the body and it can help fight against many diseases such as gastric cancer.
Water — Simply drinking at least two liters of distilled water daily can help cleanse the body of waste.

Treatments, management plans for gastric cancer

Treatment for gastric cancer usually includes one or more of the following:

Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy, such as vaccines and medication
Radiation therapy
Surgery

An individual’s exact treatment plan will depend on the origin and stage of the cancer. Age and overall health can also play a role in the treatment used to address the disease.

Aside from treating the cancer cells in the stomach, the goal of treatment for gastric cancer is to prevent the cells from spreading. If left untreated, gastric cancer may spread to the patient’s bones, liver, lungs, and lymph nodes.

Where to learn more

Summary

Gastric cancer, which is also known as stomach cancer, is characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach lining. Since individuals with gastric cancer rarely experience any early signs or symptoms, their condition may worsen until the disease is already at an advanced stage.

Some of the most common side effects of advanced gastric cancer include bloody stools, constant bloating, early satiety or feeling full after you’ve eaten only a small amount of food, and excessive fatigue.

When gastric cancer spreads to the liver, it may cause complications like ascites or fluid collection in the abdominal cavity, fever, jaundice, and malaise.

Essiac tea, green vegetables, Indian gooseberry, omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and water may help prevent gastric cancer.

Treatment for gastric cancer usually includes one or more of the following: chemotherapy, immunotherapy (such as vaccines and medication), radiation therapy, and surgery.

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