What is the difference between gastric tumor and gastric cancer?

Gastric tumor and gastric cancer are actually two different concepts. Gastric tumor is a general term that includes all new organisms that grow in the stomach, while gastric cancer is a type of malignant tumor.

1. Extensiveness of gastric tumors

Gastric tumors include all new organisms formed in the stomach, regardless of their nature. Benign tumors such as gastric polyps and gastric leiomyoma usually grow slowly and do not spread to other parts, posing relatively little threat to health. Malignant tumors include gastric cancer and gastric lymphoma, which are invasive and metastatic, posing a serious threat to life.

2. Specificity of Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is a type of stomach malignancy that originates from a malignant tumor of the gastric mucosal epithelium. It is the most common type of stomach malignancy. Gastric cancer cells have the ability to grow and spread uncontrollably, and may invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body through the blood or lymphatic system.

3. Causes and risk factors

The causes and risk factors of gastric tumors and gastric cancer are different. The main risk factors for gastric cancer include Helicobacter pylori infection, poor eating habits, smoking, alcoholism, family history, etc. The causes of benign gastric tumors are more complicated and may be related to multiple factors such as genetics, environment, and diet.

4. Symptoms

Symptoms of gastric tumors and gastric cancer may not be obvious in the early stages and may be easily overlooked. Common symptoms include upper abdominal discomfort, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and vomiting. In the late stages of gastric cancer, symptoms such as black stools, vomiting blood, and severe anemia may occur. Benign tumors usually have mild symptoms and may only present as mild indigestion or no symptoms.

5. Diagnostic methods

Diagnosis of gastric tumors and gastric cancer usually requires gastroscopy, tissue biopsy, imaging examination, etc. Gastroscopy can directly observe the lesions of gastric mucosa, while tissue biopsy can clarify the nature of the lesions. Imaging examinations such as CT and MRI can help evaluate the size and location of the tumor and whether it has metastasized.

6. Treatment

The treatment of benign gastric tumors is usually surgical resection, and the prognosis after surgery is good. The treatment of gastric cancer is more complicated and may require comprehensive treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Early gastric cancer can be cured through surgical resection, but late-stage gastric cancer is more difficult to treat and has a poor prognosis.

7. Precautions

Prevention of gastric cancer should start with improving lifestyle, such as maintaining a healthy diet, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption, and regular physical examinations. People infected with Helicobacter pylori should actively seek treatment to reduce the risk of gastric cancer. Prevention of benign gastric tumors should pay attention to dietary hygiene and avoid consuming too many carcinogens.

Through these understandings, I believe everyone has a clearer understanding of the difference between gastric tumors and gastric cancer. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular physical examinations, early detection and treatment are the keys to preventing gastric diseases. I hope this article can provide you with useful information to help you better pay attention to and protect your stomach health.