What are the initial symptoms of gastric cancer?

In clinical work, I encounter many patients who are extremely nervous when they come to see a doctor, suspecting that they have "gastric cancer" because they feel the following discomforts: abdominal distension, abdominal pain, belching, acid reflux, heartburn, etc. Some patients do not have any discomfort, but only suspect that they have gastric cancer because their neighbors, friends or family members have gastric cancer. So what are the initial symptoms of gastric cancer? The following is a brief explanation.

1. First of all, what is early gastric cancer?

The normal stomach wall has four layers, from the inside to the outside: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. Simply put, if the cancerous tissue has invaded the submucosa but not exceeded it, this type of gastric cancer is considered early stage cancer.

2. What are the special symptoms of early gastrointestinal cancer?

To be honest, there are no special symptoms for early gastric cancer. Because the disease is very early, there are no corresponding symptoms. Most of the early cancers discovered clinically are found by gastroscopy due to common abdominal discomfort; some are found during physical examinations; and some are found by gastroscopy because of anger, which causes symptoms of gastrointestinal functional diseases. Therefore, some people think that the cancer is caused by anger, but it is not true.

3. How to detect early gastric cancer?

Gastric cancer is related to heredity, diet, environment, etc. Therefore, people with a family history of gastric cancer should have a physical examination at around 45 years old, or 5 years before the age of the first person in the family to be diagnosed with cancer, and must have a gastroscopy. People who like to eat high-salt, fried foods, kimchi, etc. should also pay close attention to the condition of their stomachs. People in areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer should have regular gastroscopy examinations.