How to Know the Stages of Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer is a disease which involves the cancerous growth of normal cells in the stomach tissues. The exact cause of this disease has not been found yet, though experts believe that factors such as other diseases, disorders, environment, infection and diet are responsible for causing the normal cells in the stomach tissues to become cancerous and start growing out of control. This particular type of cancer is more common in people over the age of 40.
There are different stages of stomach cancer, five to be more precise. The condition of patient becomes more critical and chances of recovery worsen as he moves to the subsequent stage. Learning about the different stages of stomach cancer can come in real handy and the knowledge can even play a role in defeating the disease.
Instructions
-
1
The first stage of stomach cancer is referred to as Stage 0. This is basically the initial stage of cancer. The cancer is not only localised in this stage, but is yet to cause serious damage. Only the innermost layer of the stomach wall is infected. Detecting stomach cancer when it is still Stage 0 and getting appropriate treatment can help in saving the patient from what is originally a looming death.
-
2
The next stage of stomach cancer is called Stage I. This stage is slightly more understand than the previous stage. There are two things that can happen during this stage. The first of these is that the cancer spreads from the inner most layer of the stomach to the second or even third layer. However, it does not spread to the lymph nodes that are close to the area infected by cancer. The other thing that could happen during this stage is that the cancer has spread to the second layer of the stomach, as well as the lymph nodes close to the location of cancer.
-
3
The next stage, Stage II, is even more advanced than the second stage. In this stage, the condition of the patient becomes even more critical because of the three conditions that can be found in the patient. One condition is that the cancer reaches the second layer of the stomach wall and spreads to lymph nodes even if they are a bit far away from the location of cancer. Another scenario is that the cancer is in the muscle layer and spread to the lymph nodes close to the location of cancer.
-
4
In the next stage, i.e. Stage III, the patient becomes even more critical as the one of the three things happen. Cancer reaches the third layer of the stomach and spreads to the lymph nodes even if they are at a distance from the location of the tumor, or it all affects all four layers of the stomach and spreads to either nearby lymph nodes or lymph nodes that are a bit far away. The third condition that can be observed in Stage III is that the cancer affects all four layers of the stomach and also spreads to nearby tissues.
-
5
Stage IV is the final stage of stomach cancer. The cancer spreads to nearby tissues, lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
