Silent Enemy: How to Recognize Stomach Cancer Risk Before Symptoms Appear

Stomach cancer ranks fourth in prevalence and second in mortality. The key point: before the transition of chronic inflammation to oncology, years or even decades pass. In this case, the symptoms may be mild or absent at all. Because of this discomfort is often attributed to chronic gastritis or functional dyspepsia and do not conduct a sufficient amount of examinations. Russian gastroenterologist Pavel Dementiev told about the most common cause of stomach cancer, writes sb.by.

Pavel Dementyev noted that long-term inflammation is the main risk factor: it gradually changes the structure of tissues and can become the basis for the development of oncology:

- The main cause of chronic inflammation is Helicobacter pylori infection. It is she who is one of the main factors in the development of stomach cancer: the bacterium provokes persistent inflammation of the mucosa, which over time can lead to atrophy, metaplasia and ultimately to malignant degeneration of cells. Symptoms are not always obvious: heartburn, belching, bloating, a feeling of overcrowding of the stomach may be present, but often the disease is asymptomatic.

Passing FGD (gastroscopy) is a key method for assessing the state of the mucosa. Contact a gastroenterologist after the study: the doctor will decide whether additional examination is necessary and how often to repeat FGD. Identify the cause of inflammation - there are not so many of them, and each has its own approach to treatment. With timely diagnosis, inflammation can be completely stopped. Do not engage in self-diagnosis: you should not immediately sit on strict diets - nutrition should be balanced and comfortable, and the tactics of treatment are determined by the doctor.

Remember: each case is individual, the approach to nutrition and therapy is selected personally. Do not delay a visit to a specialist if there is discomfort in the stomach: early detection and treatment of inflammation significantly reduce the risk of serious complications.

What products most often cause heartburn, said the gastroenterologist