Stomach cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the stomach, affecting its ability to digest food, with various stages indicating the extent of the disease and possible spread. Risk factors include age, diet, Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, and family history. Treatment options range from local therapies like surgery and radiation to systemic therapies like chemotherapy, with preventive measures including weight management, dietary changes, and smoking cessation.

1. STOMACH CANCER

2. Introduction
Stomach cancer is an abnormal growth of cells
that begins in the stomach. The stomach is a
muscular sac located in the upper middle of
abdomen, just below ribs. stomach receives and
holds the food eat and then helps to break down
and digest it.

3. The Stomach
Hollow organ in the upper abdomen,under
the ribs
5 layers:
◦ Inner layer – where most stomach cancer begins
◦ Submucosa– support tissue for the inner layer
◦ Muscle layer – create arippling motion that
mixes andmashesfood
◦ Subserosa– support tissue for the outer layer
◦ Outer layer (serosa) – covers the stomach and
hold it in place

4. Benign Tumors
Are not cancer
Not life-threatening
Canberemoved andusuallydo not grow
back
Cells do not invade the tissuesaround
them
Cells do not spread to other parts of the
body

5. Malignant Tumors
Are cancer
Generally more serious than benign tumors
Maybelife-threatening
Often canberemoved but sometimes grow
back
Cells caninvadeanddamagenearby tissues
and organs
Canspread (metastasize) to other parts of
the body

8. Stomach Cancer
Canaffect nearby organs andlymph
nodes
Stomachtumor cangrow through
stomach’s outer layer into nearby organs
(such asthe pancreas,esophagusor
intestine)
Canspreadthrough the blood to the
liver, lungsandother organs
Canalsospreadthrough the lymphatic
systemto lymph nodesall over the body

9. Stomach Cancer

11. Risk Factors
Exact causes unknown
Age– most are age72 or older
Sex– men most likely than women
Race– more common in Asian, PacificIslander, Hispanic and
African-Americans
Diet – diet high in foods that are smoked, salted or pickled
Helicobacter pylori infection – raisesrisk of stomach
inflammation andstomachulcers
Smoking– people who smoke more at risk
Certain health problems: stomach surgery, chronic gastritis,
pernicious anemia.
Familyhistory – rare type of stomach cancer runs in some
families

12. •Gastroesophageal reflux disease
•Obesity
•Long term stomach inflammation (gastritis)
•Stomach polyps

13. Stagesof Stomach Cancer
Stage0 – cancer found only in the inner
layer of the stomach
Stage 1
◦ Tumor invaded only the submucosa– cancer
cells maybefound in up to 6 lymph nodes
◦ Tumor invaded the muscle layer or the
subserosa
◦ Cancer cells havenot spread to lymph nodes
or other organs

14. Stagesof Stomach Cancer
Stage II
◦ Tumor hasinvaded only the submucosa–
cancer cells havespread to 7-15 lymph nodes
◦ Tumor hasinvaded the muscle layer or
subserosa – cancer cells havespread to 1-6
lymph nodes
◦ Tumor haspenetrated outer layer of the
stomach
◦ Cancer cells havenot spread to lymph nodes
or other organs

15. Stagesof Stomach Cancer
Stage III
◦ Tumor hasinvaded the muscle layer or
subserosa – 7-15 lymph nodes or
◦ Tumor haspenetrated the outer layer – 1-15
lymph nodes
◦ Tumor hasinvaded nearby organs, suchasthe
liver or spleen
◦ Cancer cells havenot spread to lymph nodes
or distant organs

16. Stagesof Stomach Cancer
Stage IV
◦ Cancer cells havespread to more than 15
lymph nodes or
◦ Tumor hasinvaded nearby organs andat least
1 lymph node
◦ Cancer cells havespread to distant organs
Recurrent cancer
◦ Hascomeback
◦ Mayrecur in the stomach or in another part

18. Symptoms
Early stomach cancer – no clear
symptoms
Discomfort in the stomach area
Feelingfull or bloated after asmall meal
Nauseaandvomiting
Weight loss
Other health problems, suchasulcer or
infection, cancausethe samesymptoms.

19. •Difficulty swallowing
•Heart burn
•Indigestion
•Stomach pain

20. Diagnosis
Personal andfamily health history
Physicalexam– checksabdomen for fluid,
swelling or other changes
Upper GI series – x-rays of esophagus
and stomach (barium meal/sallow)
Endoscopy– useof athin, lighted tube
(endoscope) to look into the stomach
Biopsy – checks tissue sampleunder a
microscope for cancer cells

21. Other Tests
Blood tests – CBC to check for anemia
andhow the liver is working
Chest x-ray – checksfor tumors in the
lungs
CT scan– detailed pictures of the organs
Endoscopic ultrasound
Laparoscopy – small incisions in the
abdomen. The surgeon mayremove
lymph nodes or take tissue samplesfor
biopsy.

22. Treatment
Local therapy - removes or destroys
cancer in or near the stomach
◦ Surgery – either partial or total gastrectomy
◦ Radiation – useshigh energy rays to kill
cancer cells
Systemictherapy – the drug enters the
bloodstream anddestroys or controls
cancer throughout the body
◦ Chemotherapy – usesanticancer drugs

23. Treatment
Complementary andalternative medicine
(CAM)
◦ Acupuncture
◦ Massagetherapy
◦ Herbal products
◦ Vitamins or special diets
◦ Visualization
◦ Meditation
◦ Spiritual healing

24. Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove all of the cancer
and some of the healthy tissue around it.
Operations used for stomach cancer include:
Removing early-stage tumors from the stomach
lining. Very small cancers limited to the inside lining
of the stomach may be removed by passing special
tools through an endoscope. Procedures to cut away
cancer from the inside lining of the stomach include
endoscopic mucosal resection and endoscopic
submucosal resection.

25. Removing part of the stomach (subtotal
gastrectomy). During subtotal gastrectomy, the
removal the part of the stomach affected by cancer
and some of the healthy tissue around it. This
operation may be an option if stomach cancer is
located in the part of the stomach nearest the small
intestine.

26. Removing the entire stomach (total
gastrectomy). Total gastrectomy involves
removing the entire stomach and some
surrounding tissue. The esophagus is then
connected directly to the small intestine to allow
food to move through digestive system. Total
gastrectomy is used most often for stomach
cancers that affect the body of the stomach and
those that are located in the gastroesophageal
junction.

27. Nursing Management
Discusssituation andprovide information about
all procedures and treatment.
Help client talk about feelingsor concerns about
illness.
Discusscurrent andplanned treatment measures.
Stressthe importance of completing the
prescribed treatments.
Discussstress reduction techniques andrefer for
stress reduction counseling or workshops as
indicated.
Help arrange meeting with social worker,
counselor or member of the clergy if needed.

28. Prevention
To reduce the risk of stomach cancer, you can:
•Maintain a healthy weight. If person overweight
or obese, talk to doctor about strategies to help
lose weight. Aim for a slow and steady weight loss
of 1 or 2 pounds a week.
•Choose a diet full of fruits and vegetables. Try
to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into diet
each day. Choose a wide variety of colorful fruits
and vegetables.

29. •Reduce the amount of salty and smoked foods
you eat. Protect stomach by limiting these foods.
•Stop smoking. If person smoke, quit. If don't
smoke, don't start. Smoking increases your risk of
stomach cancer, as well as many other types of
cancer. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, so
ask doctor for help.