What are the early symptoms of gastric cancer

Early symptoms of gastric cancer are usually non-specific and may be relatively hidden. Possible symptoms include upper abdominal distension or pain, loss of appetite, indigestion symptoms, weight loss, black stools or positive occult blood in stools. The specific analysis is as follows:

1. Upper abdominal distension or dull pain: This is one of the more common early symptoms of gastric cancer. You may feel distension or dull pain in the upper abdomen, where the stomach is located. This discomfort may be more obvious after meals. Because the symptoms are relatively mild, they are easily ignored or misdiagnosed as other stomach diseases such as gastritis and gastric ulcer.

2. Loss of appetite: Patients with early-stage gastric cancer may experience unexplained loss of appetite, reduced interest in food, and reduced food intake. This loss of appetite may be accompanied by a feeling of bloating, and symptomatic treatment is ineffective and lasts for a long time.

3. Indigestion symptoms: including belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, etc. These symptoms may be related to gastric dysfunction caused by gastric cancer, or may be related to the tumor affecting the normal emptying and digestive function of the stomach.

4. Weight loss: Some patients may experience unexplained weight loss as their appetite decreases and indigestion worsens. This weight loss may be accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue and lack of energy.

5. Black stool or positive stool occult blood: Patients with early gastric cancer may experience symptoms of gastrointestinal bleeding, but the amount of bleeding is usually small. This may cause the stool to become black or the stool to be positive for occult blood. When the amount of bleeding is large, symptoms of vomiting blood may occur.

The early symptoms of gastric cancer are often atypical and easy to be ignored. Therefore, when any of the above symptoms appear, especially when these symptoms last for a long time or progressively worsen, you should seek medical attention for further examination to confirm the diagnosis. Early detection, diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer are crucial to improving the patient's prognosis and quality of life. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating habits is also one of the important measures to prevent gastric cancer.