Question
In a sense, yes. It’s really trying to say “this is persisting”. You go and see a GP and are given the normal remedies. If all the bloating hasn’t resolved after a week or two and the acid reflux is still there even after taking the acid medication, those are the warning signs.
Subsequently, the GP needs to send you for screening regardless of age or family history. If it’s persistent, you should just go and have it seen to.
As per all cancers, the earlier the stage of the cancer, the higher the chance of cure. In stomach cancer, it is no different. If stomach cancer is in the early stages where there is no spread of cancer to the surrounding tissues or to distant sites, surgery offers the best chance of cure. An exception is when the cancer is detected in the very early stages where the cancer involvement is very shallow. In such very early stages, a curative option will include an endoscopic resection of the cancer.
Yes. As I mentioned, some of the symptoms can be very subtle. You may not be having symptoms. Some people have ulcers, some have gallstones, and they experience bloating. Occasionally people have food poisoning. It’s really figuring out what is what. Unfortunately, at times like this, it’s very difficult to decide. We, as a professional, would say “okay, what are the chances of this being a stomach cancer, what’s the chance of it being something completely different? ” So it’s really taking the context into consideration.
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