Introduction to Gastric Cancer
Gastric cancer is a stomach cancer. The stomach consists of five layers. Inner layer, submucosa, muscle layer, subserosa, and the outer layer. Most cancers begin in the inner layer that is the lining inside the abdomen. The inner layer in the abdomen helps to digest food. Submucosa supports the inner abdomen, subserosa supports the outer part of the abdomen, and the muscle layer helps to mash the food in the stomach. Cancer starts in the cells and the cells are the smallest forms of a living organism. Humans are multicellular organisms because they have over 100 trillion cells in the body. Cells are the basic building blocks of life and tissues create the different organs inside the body. Cells can have a life of their own because they are born, they grow, they create new cells, and then they die off. These new cells are only created when needed, and they take the place of the old cells that die. However, sometimes things can go wrong when new cells are being created, and old cells are not dying. These are the first signs of cancer because the old cells form into a polyp or a growth, and then eventually a tumor. There are two different types of tumors. There are benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors will not be considered to be cancerous, but the malignant tumors are. Benign tumors still need to be removed from the body, but they are not considered to be dangerous. They do not disperse to other areas like a malignant tumor.
A malignant tumor can disperse to many places in the body, and they can invade the lymph nodes, tissues, and organs. They can be removed by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, but sometimes they grow back. A benign tumor will not grow back. When malignant tumors disperse to other areas into the other organs and tissues, it is called Metastasis cancer. This is caused by a change of integrity with the cells as they disperse to other areas.
There are five types of gastric cancer:
Gastric adenocarcinoma
This type of cancer has two different subtypes, which are diffuse and intestinal. The intestinal form of the disease is a rare type of cancer that usually only effects people over the age of 80, and diffuse is the more common type of cancer that can affect the young. Diffuse types of cancer also usually effect people with an A blood type. It is the most common gastric cancer.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
This is a mesenchymal tumor that is usually malignant and is found in the gastrointestinal tract. The tumor grows in an outward position that does not obstruct the intestines.
Gastrointestinal Leiomyosarcoma
This is a rare type of cancer that starts in the cells of the propria in the stomach lining. This type of cancer will not usually be distributed to the lymph nodes.
Gastrointestinal Carcinoid
This is a rare type of cancer that starts from the mucosa in the fundus and the viscus. It will rarely spread to other tissues and organ.
Gastrointestinal Lymphoma
This type of cancer can start anywhere inside of the gastrointestinal tract, but it is usually started in the stomach. The lymphoma can attack the white cells in the body's immune system.