China is a big country of gastric cancer, about 43% of the world’s gastric cancer patients in China, have you ever thought, we eat and drink every day, how can it be related to gastric cancer? Don’t be nervous, today we are going to talk about this topic that makes people a little afraid-stomach cancer! 
1. Understanding gastric cancer
Simply put, gastric cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the stomach, usually starting from the gastric mucosal epithelium. In recent years, the morbidity of gastric cancer has become younger and younger, which is closely related to our eating habits and lifestyle.
2. How does stomach cancer come about?
The occurrence of gastric cancer is like a complex “domino effect”, which requires many factors to push together. There are some factors that we can’t change, such as age, gender and heredity. But there are other factors that we can control!
1. Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection: This is a major “accomplice” of gastric cancer! According to statistics, more than half of gastric cancer in the world is related to HP infection. So, if you find yourself infected with HP, please seek medical treatment in time!
2. Bad eating habits: Many people’s eating habits are “heavy taste”, no spicy, no meat, especially like to eat pickled, smoked, fried food. These foods contain a lot of carcinogens such as nitrite and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and long-term intake of such foods may increase the risk of gastric cancer!
3. Living Habits: Besides eating, living habits are also important. If they often stay up late, smoke and drink, and have too much mental stress, they will make their stomach “very injured” and increase the risk of illness.
3. What are the symptoms of gastric cancer?
Gastric cancer often has no obvious symptoms in the early stage, or just a little stomach discomfort and indigestion. But if the following situations occur, we need to be vigilant!
1. Epigastric pain or discomfort
2. Loss of appetite, emaciation and fatigue
3. Nausea, vomiting, hematemesis or melena
If these symptoms persist or gradually worsen, they need to go to the hospital in time for examination, early detection and early treatment!
4. How to prevent gastric cancer?
If we change our bad habits and diet, we can reduce the risk of gastric cancer:
1. Develop good eating habits: eat more fresh vegetables and fruits, eat less pickled, smoked, fried food; eat regularly, do not overeat.
2. Smoking cessation and alcohol restriction: Smoking and excessive drinking are high risk factors for gastric cancer.
3. Keep a happy mood: avoid long-term bad mood and excessive mental stress.
4. Regular physical examination: especially for people over 40 years old, regular gastroscopy should be done to detect and treat stomach diseases in time.
5. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection: If you are infected with HP, you need to go to the hospital in time to eradicate the infection.
5. What are the treatments for gastric cancer?
If unfortunately diagnosed with gastric cancer, do not be too afraid, should seek medical treatment as soon as possible, receive standard treatment. At present, the treatment of gastric cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted drugs and immunotherapy.
1. Surgical treatment: This is one of the main treatments for gastric cancer, including laparotomy and minimally invasive surgery.
2. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy can help shrink tumors and kill cancer cells.
3. Targeted drugs and immunotherapy: targeting specific cancer cells or immune cells for treatment, the subjective discomfort during treatment is relatively small.
In short, as long as we maintain a healthy lifestyle, regular physical examination, timely treatment of gastric diseases and eradication of HP infection, we can greatly reduce the risk of gastric cancer. I hope everyone can have a healthy stomach and a bright future!
