Gastric cancer in the elderly is insidious and causes abdominal pain and weight loss, so be alert

Gastric cancer in the elderly is insidious and causes abdominal pain and weight loss, so be alert

Oncologists pointed out that the incidence of gastric cancer with a course of 3-6 months in the elderly group over 65 years old is higher than that in the young group, while the incidence of a course of less than or equal to 3 months is lower than that in the young group; the incidence of cancer in the gastric cardia fundus in the elderly group is higher than that in the young group, while the incidence of cancer in the gastric antrum is lower than that in the young group. At the same time, symptoms of gastric cancer such as abdominal distension, weight loss, and dysphagia are more common in the elderly group than in the young group. Among them, lesions in the gastric cardia fundus are the direct cause of the foreign body sensation when swallowing and pain and discomfort behind the sternum in the elderly, and are also a characteristic of gastric cancer in the elderly. This manifestation is easily misdiagnosed as esophageal cancer. So, compared with young patients, why is the "sneak attack" of gastric cancer on the elderly often silent?

When elderly patients with gastric cancer first develop the disease, their symptoms are not obvious. Upper abdominal pain is rare, and abdominal distension and discomfort, poor appetite,

The condition of weight loss is often ignored. This may be due to the decline of physical fitness in the elderly, decreased sensation of gastric peripheral nerves, decreased sensitivity to stimulation, and a slower response to pain. Moreover, the metabolic function of the elderly is degenerating, and cancer tissue also grows slowly. In addition, some elderly people often take gastrointestinal motility drugs or anti-inflammatory analgesics due to other diseases, which can easily conceal their true condition. The comparative observation results also found that the detection rate of gastric cancer between 2.5-5 cm in the elderly group was higher than that in the young group, and the detection rate of lesions greater than or equal to 5 cm was lower than that in the young group. This result may be due to the relatively good differentiation of gastric cancer cells in the elderly, the gentler growth pattern, and the more mass-like growth, so the lesions are smaller. In contrast, the gastric cancer cells in young people are poorly differentiated, infiltrating the muscle layer and serosal layer more, and are mainly poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas, with diffuse growth and worse biological behavior, so large lesions are relatively common.

Although gastric cancer in the elderly has weak infiltration ability, late metastasis, and low malignancy, it is difficult for them to tolerate and adapt to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy due to many unfavorable factors such as old age and weak body, which greatly reduces the prognosis and quality of life. Early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment are undoubtedly the key to improving the efficacy of gastric cancer. Experts suggest that when the elderly have the following abnormal conditions, they must be checked as soon as possible or observed regularly. 1. Recent unexplained nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms; 2. Unexplained abdominal distension, weight loss, or difficulty swallowing; 3. Those with recent aggravation or changes in the original gastric symptoms; 4. Those with black stools or persistent positive stool occult blood; 5. Those who have been diagnosed with gastric ulcers, adenomatous polyps, atrophic gastritis, and dysplasia; 6. Those who have undergone subtotal gastrectomy for more than 10 years; 7. Those with a family history of gastric cancer.

Experts emphasize that once elderly friends are diagnosed with gastric cancer, they must not panic and lose confidence and courage to overcome the disease. At present, with the advancement and development of medical technology, the diagnosis and treatment level of diseases has also been significantly improved. If the organs of the elderly are functioning well, they can be given any form of standard anti-cancer methods. If they have two or more diseases, there are also many treatments suitable for the elderly. In a word, cancer does not mean death. As long as you treat it correctly, do not avoid or retreat, and seek medical treatment as soon as possible, you will definitely achieve the best effect.

We already have a certain understanding of the fact that gastric cancer in the elderly is highly hidden and that we need to be vigilant when experiencing abdominal pain and weight loss. We hope that friends can pay more attention to their physical condition in daily life. If you have other questions, please consult our experts online for answers.

Gastric cancer http://www..com.cn/zhongliu/wa/

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