Stomach Cancer Prevention
Did you know that stomach cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States in the 1930s? Today, this cancer is not as common. But it still strikes more than 24,000 patients every year, causing more than 10,000 fatalities. As stomach cancer rates have gone down, awareness has also decreased—even as diagnostic capabilities and effective treatments are more readily available than ever. Sadly, this means that most patients who have stomach cancer are not diagnosed until the late stages of the disease.
Dr. Berookim Provides Education about Stomach Cancer
As an award winning, double board-certified gastroenterologist, Dr. Peyton Berookim is dedicated to informing his community about stomach cancer so that more patients can receive early intervention. He also works with individual patients one-on-one to ensure their digestive health. Because there are so many different conditions with overlapping symptoms, getting to the root of the problem may require expert assessment.
“The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most complex systems in the human body. It impacts every aspect of a person’s health. If a patient is experiencing troubling or persistent digestive symptoms, seeking a consultation is of utmost importance. There may be a simple, easily resolvable health issue. Or, we may identify early signs of a serious condition like stomach cancer and be able to offer lifesaving treatment.” — Dr. Berookim, MD, FACG
What Are the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer may have few symptoms during the early stages. Some patients notice:
- Indigestion
- Heartburn
- Appetite loss
- Mild nausea
As the disease progresses and begins significantly interfering with the body’s ability to process food, more severe symptoms may appear:
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Unexplained abdominal pain
- Black or bloody stool (bowel movements)
Who Is at Risk for Stomach Cancer?
Like most cancers, this one has a genetic risk factor. Individuals who have a family history of stomach cancer are in greater danger of developing this disease themselves. Men are at greater risk than women, and non-Caucasians are typically in the highest risk groups. Lifestyle and medical risk factors include:
- Smoking
- A diet high in sodium (including foods preserved with salt)
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables
- pylori infection (a bacterial infection linked to peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis)
As with many cancers, proper diet and nutrition can help reduce your risk. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, get regular exercise, and avoid smoking. Also, if you have an H. pylori infection, get it treated right away.
How Dr. Berookim Evaluates Digestive Symptoms
At your visit to the Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California, Dr. Berookim will review your medical history, ask you detailed questions about your symptoms, and perform a physical examination. Ruling out or diagnosing stomach cancer may involve lab tests, an upper endoscopy (EGD), biopsy, and x-rays. If stomach cancer is identified, additional diagnostics will be performed to pinpoint the location and stage of the cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be recommended depending on the severity of the disease.
How Much Does Early Diagnosis Matter?
It may seem scary to go in for cancer screening for digestive symptoms, but it can mean the difference between life and death. When stomach cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, about 70% of patients survive more than five years. For patients diagnosed in the late stages, the survival rate drops to about 5%. Currently, only about 1 out of 3 stomach cancer patients survive more than 5 years after diagnosis.
Take charge of your digestive health and ensure your family doesn’t lose you to stomach cancer. Los Angeles is home to the elite Gastroenterology Institute of Southern California where Dr. Berookim provides the most modern diagnostics to accurately screen you for cancer and determine the cause of your GI symptoms. Contact 310.271.1122 to schedule a consultation.