Early symptoms of stomach cancer
Disease description:
My grandfather usually doesn't restrict his diet, but recently he has been experiencing persistent stomach discomfort, nausea, and abdominal pain. When he went to the hospital for examination, he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. I would like to ask about the early symptoms of stomach cancer.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Early symptoms of gastric cancer are often subtle and may include the following possible early signs. It is important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other diseases and are not specific to gastric cancer:
1. Upper abdominal discomfort: This is a common initial symptom of gastric cancer, mainly manifested as a feeling of fullness or burning after eating. However, the pain is generally mild and tolerable, and is not clearly related to eating.
2. Loss of appetite and weight loss: Due to the presence of a tumor, patients may experience a significant decrease in appetite, accompanied by unexplained weight loss, which results from the cancer cells consuming the body's energy.
3. Nausea and vomiting: Occasional nausea or vomiting should be taken seriously, especially if blood streaks are present in the vomit.
4. Vomiting blood and black tarry stools: These are among the more severe manifestations of gastric cancer, indicating that the tumor has invaded the blood vessels of the stomach wall, causing bleeding. Patients may vomit blood or pass black, tarry stools.
5. Indigestion: Persistent stomach discomfort, bloating, belching, or heartburn, especially after meals.
If one or more of the above symptoms occur, especially if they persist, prompt medical attention is advised.
