1. What are the early symptoms of gastric cancer?
Nonspecific early symptoms include upper abdominal fullness, discomfort, dull pain, reduced appetite, belching, and acid reflux, easily confused with gastritis. Weight loss, anemia, black stools, nausea, and vomiting occur.
2. What causes gastric cancer?
Risk factors include H. pylori infection, high-salt preserved foods, smoking and drinking, chronic atrophic gastritis, and gastric polyps. Genetic factors and family history also increase risk.
3. What types of gastric cancer surgery are available?
Early gastric cancer may undergo endoscopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection. Advanced disease requires partial or total gastrectomy with lymph node dissection.
4. What is minimally invasive treatment for gastric cancer?
Early gastric cancer may undergo endoscopic mucosal resection or submucosal dissection without open surgery. Laparoscopic resection removes gastric tissue and lymph nodes through small abdominal openings.
5. What chemotherapy regimens are used for gastric cancer?
Common regimens contain platinum and fluoropyrimidine drugs. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy shrinks tumors before surgery, while adjuvant chemotherapy reduces postoperative recurrence risk.
6. What targeted therapies and immunotherapies are available for gastric cancer?
HER2-positive patients may receive trastuzumab. Antiangiogenic drugs such as apatinib are used in advanced disease.
7. How is nutrition managed after gastric cancer treatment?
After gastrectomy, eat small, frequent meals and easily digested foods. Supplement iron, vitamin B12, and calcium to prevent anemia and osteoporosis. Monitor nutritional markers regularly.
