Many of you may be having stomach cancer unknowingly. There are critical signs you should watch if you don’t want to die of any cancer related ailment.
To live long, perhaps past the life expectancy in your country, you have to constantly and persistently visit a doctor for screening, but before that, check out the following symptoms to determine whether you have any signs of stomach cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, the following symptoms could indicate stomach cancer:
- indigestion or heartburn
- discomfort or pain in the abdomen
- nausea and vomiting
- diarrhea or constipation
- bloating of the stomach after meals
- loss of appetite
- weakness and fatigue
- bleeding (vomiting blood or having blood in the stool)
Are You at Risk? Well, these are the most common factors that could increase your risk for developing stomach cancer include the following:
- age (over 55)
- gender (males are two-thirds more likely than women)
- diet high in foods that are smoked, dried, salted, or pickled
- smoking and alcohol abuse
- previous stomach surgery
- family history
- presence in stomach of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which may cause ulcers
Note: you should be very careful and if you suffer from the warning signs of stomach cancer or are worried about your risk, talk to your doctor. He or she may refer you to a gastroenterologist (a physician who specializes in digestive disorders) for further evaluation.