stomach cancer Archives

Is It Just a Stomachache or Something More? How To Recognize the Warning Signs of Stomach Cancer

Did you know that more than 7 in 100,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year and that 3 in 100,000 people will die from it? On this World Cancer Day, we’d like to take a look at this type of cancer and give you some information on how to help detect it. After all, stomach cancer is often overlooked as just a stomach ache, which can lead to a delayed diagnosis, and early detection is key. While stomachaches can usually be written off as a virus or just something you ate, if you’re experiencing symptoms that are unusual for you, like bloating or heartburn, it’s important to get checked, because these are some of the early signs of stomach cancer. So when should you talk to your doctor?

What Is Stomach Cancer?

Also called gastric cancer, stomach cancer develops when healthy cells are replaced by growing cancer cells within the stomach lining. Before this happens, pre-cancerous cells begin to change in the inner lining of the stomach, or mucosa, and eventually, as more and more cancerous cells grow, they will form into a tumor. This process usually takes a long time: stomach cancer can even take years to develop and grow. Depending on where cancer starts in the stomach, it can cause different symptoms, and require different types of treatments.

The Different Types of Stomach Cancer

illustration of a stomach — *The most common type of stomach cancer begins in the innermost lining of the stomach.*

There are many kinds of stomach cancers because there are so many layers of the stomach:

Adenocarcinoma- This is the most common type of stomach cancer, in which cancer begins and grows in the innermost lining of the stomach.
Lymphoma– This cancer starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes and develops from cells in your immune system.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor– This is a kind of soft tissue sarcoma that can grow in the stomach wall.
Neuroendocrine cancer– This is a rare, slow-growing tumor that grows from the neuroendocrine cells of the stomach.

Risk Factors

The most common cause of stomach cancer is a common bacteria that causes stomach infections and ulcers: H. pylori bacteria; tumors, stomach polyps, or acid reflux can also be the culprit. In addition, there are other factors that can increase your risk of developing stomach cancer, including:

Being male
Being older
Being overweight
Smoking
Having Type A blood
Previous stomach surgery
Family history
A diet high in smoked foods, salted fish, or cured meats

The Warning Signs

Stomach cancer can grow unnoticed for many years, because there are often no warning signs in the early stages – but there are some early symptoms to be on the lookout for. Unfortunately, these are often things that can seem fairly normal, so early detection can be tricky. With that being said, if you experience any of the following on a regular basis, get checked!

Bloating
Heartburn
Nausea and vomiting
Changes in appetite

You should also talk to your doctor if you:

Unexpectedly lose a lot of weight
Are extremely fatigued
Feel full after eating very little
Have blood in your vomit or stool
Become anemic
Experience swelling in the abdomen

The best way to detect stomach cancer early is to talk to your doctor if you feel like something is wrong. You know your body better than anyone, so trust your gut!

Stomach Cancer Prevention & Treatment

A healthier lifestyle is the best way to help prevent stomach cancer: a diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help decrease your risk. And if you are diagnosed with stomach cancer, don’t worry, there are several treatment options to help you beat it, including radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and targeted therapy.

Stomach cancer can be fatal if you don’t detect it early and treat it in time. But if found, it can be treated, so stay on top of your health and speak to your doctor if you notice anything out of the ordinary.

Anything related to cancer can be scary and expensive, especially if you don’t have adequate health insurance to cover the tests required for diagnosis and the subsequent treatments you’ll have to undergo. If you need a better plan, come to EZ: we’ll compare plans in your area at no cost to you, and find a plan that offers you the coverage you need at an affordable price. Our agent will provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision on your health insurance plan. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to an agent, call 888-350-1890.

A Coffee A Day Keeps Alzheimer’s at Bay

Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world and has been for a while. It gives you a boost when you first wake up, the smell is satisfying, and it tastes delicious. In the past, negative aspects of coffee have circulated. However, recent research shows it can actually improve your brain, and overall health as you age.

Different cups of coffee with cream in it or black. — *Coffe boosts brain health and function. Studies show that it can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia.*

Delay The Onset Of Alzheimer’s

Just by consuming coffee, people with mild dementia and cognitive impairment can delay the onset of Alzheimer’s. A study conducted of 124 older adults with mild cognitive impairment ages 65 to 88 revealed that caffeine blocks brain inflammation and fights off the receptors that cause cognitive decline. The participants with early dementia and cognitive impairment were tested once and then again 2-4 years later. These studies revealed that the test subjects with high blood caffeine were less likely to develop full-blown Alzheimer’s.

Neuroscientist Chuanhai Cao, who partook in the study, stated that “These intriguing results suggest that older adults with mild memory impairment who drink moderate levels of coffee, about three cups a day, will not convert to Alzheimer’s disease or at least will experience a substantial delay before converting to Alzheimer’s.”

Live Longer

Coffee can be an answer to living longer. One large-scale study that had over 400,000 mature adult participants gave some surprising results. Men who drank 2 cups of coffee a day lived 10% longer than those who did not. Women who drank the same lived 13% longer than women who did not imbibe caffeine. 10-13% might not seem like a large number, but wouldn’t you like a 10% increase in longevity?

Boosts Brain Function & Memory

A study conducted at the University of California showed that people who consumed 200 mg of caffeine before taking a memory test received greater scores than those who did not. The participants looked at images and then were asked to come back a day later and correctly identify them. The coffee drinkers scored higher, proving that caffeine enhances long term memory. On the other hand, the study proved that people who consumed 300 mg of caffeine (more than 3 cups of coffee at once) did not do much better on the test, and complained of feeling jittery with headaches.

Caffeine will boost your brain function and memory, but it is important to note that only a certain amount will help.

All black picture of a brain with strong arms on both sides of it. — *Drinking 2 cups of coffee will boost your memory and brain function throughout the day.*

More than 200 mg can have negative side effects. So, stick with two cups.

Protective Effects Against Stomach Cancer

About 27,000 cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed this year, but coffee might help reduce your risk. A 2016 study compared regular coffee drinkers to non-coffee drinkers, and the results were minor but hopeful. Regular coffee drinkers had a 7% reduced risk of stomach cancer, and those who drank more coffee saw higher reductions. People who drank three to four cups per day were 12% less likely to develop stomach cancer.

Prevents Diabetes

Drinking coffee, whether caffeinated or not has benefits towards your glucose levels. Studies have shown you can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes just by drinking decaffeinated coffee. The author of the study stated that “compared with no coffee consumption… six cups a day of coffee was associated with a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes.”

This can greatly help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s as well because about 70% of people with type 2 diabetes go on to develop Alzheimer’s.

Drinking at least 2 cups of coffee a day has been found to greatly reduce the risk of most diseases, including cardiovascular disease, and cancer. If you are an avid coffee drinker, then great, keep doing what you’re doing. If you are not, then consider drinking at least a cup a day, or opt for a non-caffeinated coffee. You can increase your overall health by adding something as simple as a cup of joe to your daily routine.