Frequently Asked Questions about Stomach Cancer

In this blog, we have collected the most frequently asked questions about Stomach Cancer. The answers to these questions have been verified by the Padma Bhushan & Padma Shri Oncologist, Dr. Suresh Advani.

If you or your loved one has been through the diagnosis of cancer, you might have looked up and read a lot about it on the internet.

Cancer is a sensitive and huge subject. There is an ocean of knowledge available on the internet about it. It can leave the readers with a lot of doubts and queries.

Let’s try and resolve a few of them. Let’s get started!

What are the warnings/symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

We all get stomach aches from time to time, but fortunately, they are not amongst the early symptoms of Cancer. Bloating, heartburn, nausea, general discomfort are some of the early symptoms.

However, there are a few warnings that one must watch out for. They include:

Blood in stool or vomit.
Unexpected weight loss and drop in appetite.
Severe fatigue.
Diarrhea and constipation.

India’s Top Oncologist and the best doctor for stomach cancer in Mumbai Dr. Suresh Advani shares “In case of Stomach cancer, patients observe a change in their appetite. They start feeling full even after consuming a small amount of food. Another symptom includes REFLUX. This is when the food that you eat comes back up to the esophagus.”

Is Stomach Cancer a death sentence?

This requires a deep understanding of how far cancer has spread. Even after the diagnosis of cancer in a patient, they have the chances of surviving for 5 years or more depending on their stage of cancer.

Stage 1: In this scenario, cancer has not yet spread to the muscular layer of the stomach wall (muscularis propia), lymph nodes or other vital organs of the body.

Stage 1 in cancer is divided into two parts: Stage 1A and 1B.

The chances of 5-year survival of the patient with Stage 1 is anywhere between 58% to 72%.

Stage 2: It is also divided into two parts: Stage 2A and 2B. Here, cancer has spread to 2-3 lymph nodes and possibly to the muscularis propia.

The chances of the patient surviving for 5 years or more is between 34% to 47%.

Stage 3: It is divided into three stages: Stage 3A, Stage 3B and Stage 3C.

In this case, cancer has spread to the muscular layer of the stomach wall along with 3-7 (or up to 16 in some cases) lymph nodes.

The chances of a patient diagnosed with Stage 3 Cancer surviving for 5-years is anywhere between 9% to 20%.

Stage 4: Stage 4 of Stomach cancer is a critical stage where cancer has spread to vital organs far away from the stomach like the liver, lungs, brain or bones.

The chances of 5-year survival of the patient with Stage 4 is less than 5%.

What is the main cause of Stomach Cancer?

Cancer is caused when healthy cells inside a person’s body become cancerous and start to grow out of control. This unusually fast growth of cancerous cells can result in a tumour.

There are certain risk factors that are under our control. Stomach cancer is often seen in people who are habitual smokers or have a family history of cancer.

What foods should you NOT eat when you have Stomach Cancer?

Cancer specialist in Mumbai, Dr Suresh Advani advises people diagnosed with Cancer to cut down on processed foods. One must avoid excessive consumption of meat. It is a good practice to avoid foods like candy, soda, sweetened beverages and packaged snacks.

What should you eat then?

Maintain a balanced diet.
Eat smaller and frequent meals.
Eat fruits, cooked vegetables, lean proteins and nut butter (e.g. peanut butter).

Is Stomach Cancer curable?

Yes. Stomach cancer is usually treatable if found in the early stages. It depends on multiple factors like the patient’s age, overall health, medical history and how far has the cancer spread. If you observe the symptoms mentioned above, then it is recommended that you visit an oncologist as soon as possible. Read an in-depth article on the same here.

If you live in or around Mumbai, you can schedule a one-on-one meeting with India’s most respected Oncologist Dr. Suresh Advani. For someone living away from Mumbai, you can visit the website and get an instant Video Consultation with Dr Suresh Advani.