Diálogos en confianza (Salud) - Cáncer de estómago (03/11/2014)

Stomach cancer tends to develop slowly over many years, but before it forms, precancerous changes often occur in the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach. These changes almost never cause symptoms and therefore go undetected. The location of the cancer can also determine treatment options. For example, cancers that originate at the gastroesophageal junction are staged and treated the same way as esophageal cancers. A cancer that originates in the cardia of the stomach but is growing toward the gastroesophageal junction is also staged and treated as esophageal cancer. Stomach cancers can spread (metastasize) in several ways: they can grow through the stomach wall and invade nearby organs, or they can spread to the lymphatic vessels and adjacent lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are bean-sized structures that help fight infection. The stomach has a very rich network of lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes, and when stomach cancer progresses, it can travel through the bloodstream and spread to organs such as the liver, lungs, and bones. But if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, the patient's prognosis is not as favorable. In this program, specialists will inform us about the risk factors associated with stomach cancer, its symptoms, and the treatment options available to support the patient.