How can stomach cancer be detected through examination?
Disease description:
Previously, the pain would start when I didn't eat, but now my stomach hurts as soon as I eat. Moreover, between the two breasts, there is a stabbing pain that begins every evening. At severe times, I also feel a bit short of breath. Doctor, could this be stomach cancer? How can stomach cancer be diagnosed?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Diagnostic methods for gastric cancer:
1. Gastroscopy: This is the most direct and effective method for diagnosing gastric cancer. Gastroscopy allows direct visualization of the gastric mucosa, detection of abnormal areas, and biopsy of tissues under direct vision. The biopsy samples are sent for pathological examination to determine the presence of malignant cells.
2. Upper gastrointestinal barium meal radiography: Although less direct than gastroscopy, this method helps detect gastric masses or ulcers by observing morphological changes in the digestive tract under X-ray imaging.
3. CT scan: CT imaging plays a significant role in assessing the extent of gastric cancer lesions, local lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. CT images allow physicians to clearly visualize the tumor's size, shape, and its relationship to surrounding organs, providing a basis for developing treatment plans.
4. Blood tests: Although blood tests cannot directly diagnose gastric cancer, they can detect tumor markers such as CA72-4 and CEA, which aid in assessing the disease status. Additionally, blood tests can evaluate the patient's overall health condition, including the degree of anemia and liver and kidney function.
Once diagnosed, a professional medical team should promptly develop an individualized treatment plan, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy, aiming to achieve the best therapeutic outcome.
