Added: 02/08/2006 |
A Variety of Diseases Treated by GastrectomySo, what is the stomach cancer? Stomach cancer is one of the most common diseases treated by gastrectomy. Stomach cancer is resulted from cell changes in the lining of the stomach. There is still no unanimous decision on the causes of stomach cancer. But we may be sure about one thing: fresh vegetables, milk, vitamin C and frozen food reduce the risk of stomach cancer. While smoked, salted and pickled foods increase this risk. Other risk suggested factors include being blood group A, and having the bacteria Helicobacter pylori in the stomach. Men are more likely to have stomach cancer than women. The peak age range is 40-60 years old.
As most of diseases treated by gastrectomy, stomach cancer has the following symptoms: blood in the vomit, internal bleeding. Diseases treated by gastrectomy may remain undetected for quite a long time as the disease may develop slowly and imperceptibly. Sometime the disease has its manifestation once it has spread beyond the stomach, e.g. involving liver. A patient may experience vomiting because of the obstruction of the food passage by a tumor.
Sometimes it takes many months from the time the first symptoms appear. So, you have to seek pieces of medical advice as soon as possible till potentially curable areas remain unaffected by the tumor. If you have the slightest suspicions of any of the mentioned above symptoms you should consult your doctor.
Surgery is the most important for diseases treated by gastrectomy. In needs mentioning that the results of the surgery have considerably improved over the past ten years and better surgical methods have developed.
Peptic ucler disease also belongs to diseases treated by gastrectomy. A peptic ulcer disease may be defined as a sore developing in the lining of the stomach or in some cases small intestine. It's a 3 mm break in size in depth involving stomach or duodenum.
The mechanism of peptic ulcer is the following: our stomach produces a very strong acid. This acid digests and breaks down the food before it gets into duodenum (small intestine). Our stomach is protected with a thick mucous layer so acid doesn't affect it. Peptic ulcer disease causes breaks in this lining.
There are several causes of this disease; Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and stress are among them. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), despite its funny name, is the main cause of peptic ulcer disease. These bacteria produce inflammation in the stomach wall which is known as gastritis. People probably acquire this bacterium from contaminated food and water.
Aspirin and medications against arthritis like Indocin, Feldene, Aleve, Voltaren, Lodine, Naprosyn and a number of others are also primary causes of peptic ulcer disease. The situation is also aggravated by numerous stresses. The mentioned above drugs injure the protective layer of the stomach and let acid affect it.
Burning pain in the upper abdomen and gnawing, several hours after the meal are the main symptoms of peptic ulcer disease. A patient may have a burning sensation at night; moreover it may be so strong so it wakes him up.
Treatment methods may vary from avoiding aspirin like drugs to taking acid suppressing medicine to surgical methods (in most extreme cases).
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