Essay on Stomach Cancer

* CT or MRI scans – these sophisticated scans involve lying still inside a machine as it takes images of the internal organs. The pictures that result can give a very good idea of whether cancer might be present but aren 't absolutely definite as cell samples are needed to make a full diagnosis. Scans are often done in order to guide a biopsy to suspicious areas.

According to Professor John Neoptolemos, "There are approximately 7,000 new cases each year - but it is one of the most lethal cancers." The main reason for the low survival rate from pancreatic cancer is due to its difficulty in finding this cancer early. By the time a person has symptoms, the cancer has often reached a large size and spread to other organs. Because the pancreas is deep inside the body, the doctor cannot see or feel tumors during a routine physical exam. There are currently no blood tests or other tests that can easily find this cancer early in people without symptoms. Tests for certain genes in people with a family history of the disease can help tell if they are at higher risk for cancer. There are some new tests for finding pancreatic cancer early in people with a strong family history of the disease, but these tests are complicated and expensive. Some symptoms of pancreatic cancer include jaundice, a yellow color of the eyes and skin caused by a substance buildup in the liver, pain in the belly area or in the middle of the back, significant weight loss over a number of months, loss of appetite, digestive problems including nausea, vomiting, pain that tends to be worse after eating, a swollen gallbladder that is enlarged, blood clots that form in the veins or cause problems with fatty tissue under the skin, and diabetes. If the doctor has any reason to suspect pancreatic cancer, certain tests will be done to see if the disease is really

The stomach is an organ that is part of the digestive system. The stomach is located in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity, below the diaphragm and next to the liver (Stomach, 2013). The inner walls of the stomach contain small pores called gastric pits. The gastric pits contain cells that secrete chemicals that aid in the digestion of food (Nguyen, 2015). In this essay, I will discuss the different cell types of the stomach, how they work together to provide the overall function of the stomach, why each organ requires different cell types, why the stomach can’t be comprised of just one cell type, and the advantage of having different types of cells.

Approximately 20% of pancreatic cancer is found to be operable or resectable. The complete resection of the primary lesion is best treatment for patients with localized pancreatic cancer. However the risk of both local and distal recurrence is high in following resection. In early stage pancreatic cancer the complete resection are associated with considerable morbidity in 40–60% of patients and mortality in less than 3% of patients (Sohn et al., 2000; Winter et al., 2006). Moreover, it takes 2–3 months for complete recovery to a normal quality of life. Although the 5-year survival rate of resected pancreatic cancer is approximately 20% and the median overall survival time is 17–27 months (Winter et al., 2006).

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer is mostly found in adults age 50 and older. The most common symptoms are abdominal pain, weakness, fatigue, and weight loss. In the early stages of colon cancer not many symptoms are evident, when the symptoms do appear they vary depending on the location of where the growth is, and the size. Usually this type of cancer arrives in polyps, which are small non-cancerous growths that can become cancer over time.

In order to determine which stage of cancer you have there are a few different tests given. A CT scan and an MRI let the doctors see your internal organs, including your pancreas. An endoscopic ultrasound uses an ultrasound device take pictures of your pancreas from inside your abdomen. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography also known as an ERCP uses a dye to highlight the bile ducts of your pancreas. An XRAY is taken of the ducts and cell samples are collected, otherwise known as a biopsy.

As we age, there are other medical factors that can increase our chances in causing cancer mutations in the body. Age is a very important risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Especially for someone over the age of sixty, it is very common to be found in patients of that age. Diet and habits also pay a factor in increasing the chance of pancreatic cancer. Facts of pancreatic cancer states that pancreatic cancers are more likely to exist in men that women, and more in African Americans than whites. Smoking, obesity, and alcohol consumption is also consider big risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

People with certain risk factors may be more likely than others to develop cancer of the pancreas. Some risk factors that may increase the chance of getting cancer of the pancreas include smoking tobacco, the most important risk factor for pancreatic cancer. People with diabetes, family history with pancreatic cancer increases the risk of developing the disease, inflammation of the pancreas and having pancreatitis for a long time. Overweight or obese people may likely than other people to develop pancreatic cancer. Possible risk factors being studied include, diet high in animal fat and heavy drinking of alcoholic beverages. “Another area of active research is whether certain genes increase the risk of disease. Many people who get pancreatic cancer have none of these risk factors, and many people who have known risk factors don’t develop the disease”.(pg. 7).

MRI may also be used. ERCP is also used in the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma. Endoscopic ultrasound is useful in identifying small tumors and in performing fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the primary tumor or lymph nodes. Cells obtained during ERCP are sent to the laboratory for analysis. GI x-ray findings may demonstrate deformities in adjacent organs caused by the impinging pancreatic mass.(Goldman & Schafer, 2012; Otherman & Wallace, 2012)

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, otherwise known as Gist, is an orphan cancer. This is a rare cancer that starts in the connective tissue (fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, bones or cartilage). The most likely location for GISTs are the stomach (55% chance), duodenum and small intestine (30% chance), esophagus (5% chance), rectum (5% chance) and colon (2% chance). This cancer is so new and uncommon, they can not even tell an average American diagnosis per year yet. The first of any type of research for this disease was in the 1990s. Since there is not a ton of research done on this yet doctors tend to miss diagnose people causing big problems. Some common symptoms of Gist include throwing up blood, change

For one, family genetics can be a cause of stomach cancer, making a person's cells more predisposed to mutate. A person with a family history of gastric cancer is 2 - 3 times more likely to be afflicted with the cancer than a person with a clean family history. Risky habits can also cause an increased the chances of having gastric cancer. For example, a smoker is more prone to stomach cancer than a nonsmoker. ("Stomach cancer," 2012) Tobacco smoke, in particular, is apt to cause cancer due to the 69 carcinogenic chemicals within it ("Harms of Smoking," 2011). Another habit that raises a person's chance of having gastric cancer is frequent, excessive consumption of alcohol ("Stomach Cancer," 2012). Though alcohol in itself does not cause cancer, when the body metabolizes alcohol, the body produces acetaldehyde, a cancer-causing agent. In addition to risky habits, certain dietary choices lead to an increased risk of stomach cancer. For example, intaking "salty, smoked, or nitrate-preserved" foods may give rise to gastric cancer in some people ("Stomach Cancer," 2012). The salty foods are a risk factor because too much salt can damage the stomach's lining, making the stomach more vulnerable to malfunctions in its cells ("Recommendations for Cancer," n.d.). Smoked foods can cause stomach cancer because they produce heterocyclic amines and

Colon and rectal cancer develop in the digestive tract, which is also called the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. The digestive system processes food for energy and rids the body of solid waste matter (fecal matter or stool). Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many features in common. Sometimes they are referred to together as colorectal cancer.

pylori. One way to test for H. pylori is to do a Breath Test. When taking the breath test, the person has to stop taking antibiotics or Pepto-Bismol up to 2 weeks before the testing. During the test, the swallowing of a special substance that has urea is necessary. The body uses the urea to break down protein and the urea used for the test is made harmlessly radioactive. If H. pylori is present, the bacteria convert the urea into CO2 which is then detected and recorded in the persons exhale breath 10 minutes after. This test is very affective in determining whether a person has H. pylori or not. The next test is a blood test which is used to measure antibodies to H. pylori. The test can only tell if a person has H. pylori antibodies but it cannot tell if the person currently have the infection or how long they have had the infection. The blood test cannot be used to see if the infection has been cured after treatment. The third type of test is the stool test that can detect traces of H. pylori in the feces. The stool test can be used to diagnose the infection and confirm that it has been cured after the treatment. The fourth type of test is a biopsy (a tissue sample) that is taken from the stomach lining and a biopsy is the most accurate way to tell if a person has H. pylori. To remove the tissue sample from the lining of the stomach the person has to go through a procedure called an endoscopy and this procedure is done in the hospital. Reasons for needing an endoscopy include diagnosing the ulcer, treating bleeding, or making sure there is no cancer (Tests for H. pylori,

Colonoscopies are the most common way to detect colon cancer. Therefor doctors recommend regular screening tests every 10 years, but people with higher risk, such as a family history with the disease or old age may need to go in more frequently. Normally people should begin screenings at age 50 but people with an increased risk or signs of symptoms, should talk to their doctor about the best plan. Consequently, most people don’t think they need to go in because they don’t show any symptoms, it's money for something they probably don’t even have, or they think since no one else in their family has had it, their safe, but they're actually excuses for something that could help save you from the grueling pains of colon cancer. For those of you, I urge you to be vigilant about possibilities. No matter what your age. It can be fought before it even begins!

However, in the unfortunate case that you might think you have cancer. It is important to get tested. There are essentially three main ways to test for esophageal cancer: endoscopy, x-ray and a biopsy. An endoscopy refers to a hollow tube equipped with a lens that is lowered down into your esophagus, from which the doctor sees if there are any problem areas in your esophagus. X-rays of the esophagus also known as an esophagram, are also used to determine cancer. In the process you must drink a liquid called barium which temporarily coats the inside of your esophagus so it is easily visible from an x-ray machine. For a biopsy, like an endoscopy a tube descends down your throat and is used to collect a sample of the tissue in the problematic area. This