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Stomach Cancer is also known as gastric cancer can affect any part of the stomach. Most commonly it involves the body or the gastroesophageal junction. Stomach cancer is an abnormal growth of cells involving the lining of the stomach. Cancers can also arise from the stomach muscles or the neurovascular bundle. Here we discuss a case of an elderly adult male who presented chronic loss of weight and persistent bloating.
Stomach cancers tend to develop slowly over many years. Cancers can start in different sections of the stomach and cause different symptoms. The location of cancer can determine the type of surgery the patient needs. Early cancer can cause indigestion, feeling of bloated sensation after meals, heartburn, slight nausea, loss of appetite, and in severe cases loss of weight. Other severe symptoms are not uncommon which include blood in stool, vomiting weakness, and in serious conditions even jaundice. An elderly male presented to our MH Surgery Clinics for evaluation of persistent heartburn and bloating sensation.
During the evaluation, he underwent investigations which included an ultrasound scan of the abdomen and upper endoscopy. In endoscopy, there was a large tumor occupying the distal part of the stomach. Further to endoscopy he also underwent computed tomography and further evaluation to rule out distance spread of cancer. All this was possible after careful and close evaluation of the investigations by MH Surgery Clinic Surgeons.
During the surgery, we found a large tumor occupying the distal part of the stomach and this was the cause for persistent bloating sensation and loss of weight. The tumor was when located within the stomach and there was no spread of cancer that was noted based on the intraoperative evaluation. The patient underwent removal of more than two-thirds of his stomach and removal of the draining lymph nodes. All this was performed via a Minimally Invasive Advanced Surgery technique. The size of the incision was kept to a minimum. The patient recovered extremely well and remained with significant low pain and was discharged home in four days. Although this surgery requires the patients to stay longer in the hospital, our team of surgeons and intensive care specialists was able to provide the best care so that the patient could be discharged home sooner.
Stomach cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting the Asian population. it is also quite commonly seen in the Western population however the location is is different. Treatment of stomach cancer is primarily through surgery. Cancer that is well localized has a far superior outcome compared to cancer that is spread to local or distant organs. However, there are various treatment modalities available which include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and even palliative care and palliative surgery for patients suffering from different stages of cancer.
Dr Manjunath Haridas MD FACS FICS
Surgical Gastroenterologist