How should the elderly deal with gastric cancer

Gastric cancer patients over 60 years old are generally called elderly gastric cancer. Due to the special physical conditions of the elderly, the onset of gastric cancer in the elderly has its own characteristics. Only by understanding its characteristics can we better prevent it.

Characteristics of the disease in the elderly:

1. The elderly are prone to multi-organ chronic diseases and often take multiple medications, which can irritate the stomach to a certain extent and cause gastrointestinal symptoms of varying degrees, thus easily masking and confusing the early manifestations of gastric cancer.

2. Gastric cancer in the elderly is mostly high-positioned gastric cancer, and the early symptoms are atypical.

3. Elderly people with gastric cancer often lack a history of chronic gastric disease, with only 1/5 having such a history.

4. Due to physiological factors and other diseases, the elderly are often restricted from undergoing gastroscopy, X-ray barium meal and other examinations, and the examinations are not timely, resulting in delayed diagnosis.

5. There are usually no positive signs in the early physical examination, but in the late stage, there may be a lump in the right upper abdomen, which is hard and slightly tender.

6. The elderly are slow to respond to the symptoms of early gastric cancer. Some patients take certain medications for symptomatic treatment on their own after the onset of the disease, and give up going to the hospital once the symptoms are relieved, which often leads to delayed treatment.

In view of the characteristics of gastric cancer in the elderly, the elderly should take the following measures in their daily lives to prevent the occurrence of gastric cancer:

1. Treat chronic diseases promptly;

2. Raise awareness and awareness of gastric cancer;

3. Develop good eating habits and lifestyle to reduce the occurrence of gastritis and gastric ulcers;

4. Have regular physical examinations.