Gastric cancer is one of the common types of cancer in China, and many young people are also diagnosed with gastric cancer. In fact, gastric cancer is not terrifying. It is a result of long-term evolution from minor problems. The most important thing is to detect it early. What are the signs of impending gastric cancer?
[Causes of Gastric Cancer]
1. Precancerous lesions
Gastric diseases including gastric polyps, chronic atrophic gastritis, and remnant stomach after partial gastrectomy may be accompanied by varying degrees of chronic inflammation, intestinal metaplasia of gastric mucosa, or non-atypical hyperplasia, which may transform into cancer.
2. Infection with Helicobacter pylori
The infection rate of Hp in adults in high-risk areas of gastric cancer in China is over 60%. Helicobacter pylori can convert nitrate to nitrite and nitrosamine, which can cause cancer. Hp infection causes chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa, accelerates excessive proliferation of epithelial cells, and leads to distortion and carcinogenesis. The toxic products of Helicobacter pylori, CagA and VacA, may have carcinogenic effects, and the detection rate of anti-CagA antibodies in gastric cancer patients is significantly higher than that in the general population.
3. Regional environment and dietary factors
Gastric cancer has obvious regional differences in incidence. The incidence of gastric cancer in northwest and eastern coastal areas of China is higher than that in southern regions. The incidence of distal gastric cancer is higher in populations who consume smoked, salted foods for a long time, which is related to the high content of carcinogens or precarcinogens such as nitrite, fungal toxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the food. The risk of gastric cancer in smokers is 50% higher than that in non-smokers.
[Signs of Impending Gastric Cancer]
1. Heartburn and acid reflux
Heartburn generally refers to the lower part of the sternum, also known as the "pit of the stomach", where there is a burning sensation like a fire burning. This is mainly because the food in the stomach "runs" into the esophagus. The stomach secretes gastric acid, so everything in the stomach is acidic, while the esophagus is alkaline. When acidic substances "run" into the esophagus, they will corrode the mucosa of the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the "pit of the stomach", which is what we call heartburn.
2. Discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen
Discomfort in the upper abdomen is the most common initial symptom of gastric cancer. It is mainly manifested as a feeling of fullness or burning after eating, recurring attacks, short duration of attacks, and not very severe symptoms, which are easily mistaken for indigestion or gastritis and therefore ignored.
If there are repeated symptoms of indigestion, such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, etc., it should be promptly investigated whether it is gastric cancer. 57.5% of gastric cancer patients have loss of appetite in the early stage, 57.2% of patients have symptoms of nausea and vomiting. 74.7% of gastric cancer patients have upper abdominal pain in the early stage.
3. Anemia
Zhao Dongbing, deputy director of the Department of Abdominal Surgery at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital, pointed out: "There is another more concealed sign of gastric cancer that we don't even associate with gastric diseases at all, and that is anemia." People with gastric cancer have tumor-related blood vessel damage, leading to gastric bleeding, and some people may have symptoms of hematemesis, which is the main cause of anemia.
4. Dark or bloody stools
It is very normal to have black or dark stools when eating pork liver, sweet potatoes, red dragon fruit, blood tofu, or iron supplements. But if black stools occur even when these situations are ruled out, or even directly passing stools with blood, the possibility of gastric cancer should be considered. Gastric cancer patients often have slight bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. If not taken seriously, the condition will worsen.
[Principles of Cancer Diet Therapy]
1. Daily diet
Beneficial foods for digestive system tumors include leeks, water caltrops, cabbage, seaweed, lily, and snap beans. Foods in daily life such as garlic, soy products, and green tea are also anti-cancer remedies.
2. Eat small meals frequently
Gastric cancer patients should avoid overeating or fasting, as both situations have a negative impact on the condition. If overeating, it will cause excessive expansion of the gastric antrum, increase gastric acid, and cause damage to the stomach due to increased acid content, thereby aggravating the condition. The same goes for fasting, which also causes damage to the stomach. Therefore, gastric cancer patients should try to avoid these two situations.
3. Selective vegetables and meats
In the selection of vegetables and meats, choose foods that are easy to digest, have sufficient calories but in small quantities, contain protein, contain vitamin A, vitamin B, or carotene. For example, porridge, soft noodles, soft rice, soy milk, mushrooms, etc. Avoid fried foods, fried foods, and foods with high fiber content, such as leeks, bean sprouts, ham, bacon, dried fish, etc. Avoid foods with high salt content and strong stimulation, such as pickled foods, spicy foods, ginger, alcohol, etc. At the same time, do not eat foods that are too hard, too hot, or too cold, as these foods will cause certain damage to the stomach.
4. Protect the gastric mucosa
To protect the gastric mucosa in terms of diet, patients should avoid foods with high salt content, hard texture, and high temperature. They should also avoid binge drinking and overeating, pay attention to regular eating habits, and eat small meals. By making these choices, the gastric mucosa can be protected.
5. Emphasize balanced nutrition
The purpose of diet therapy is to ensure that gastric cancer patients have sufficient nutritional supplementation, improve their ability to fight diseases, and promote their recovery. The principle is to nourish the body, assist with fruits, benefit from meat, and supplement with vegetables.
The use of diet to prevent and treat diseases has a long history in China. It is even more significant for cancer patients, as it not only helps alleviate the clinical symptoms of cancer patients but also promotes their recovery. Cancer patients should follow the following three basic principles when using diet therapy.
