A new information campaign called Be clear on cancer has just been launched in Great Britain in an attempt to alert the general public to gastroesophageal cancers. The campaign coincides with a new survey commissioned by the British Department of Health which shows that only one in two people (exactly 55%) see their doctor for heartburn, including when the symptom extends over several weeks. . However, as the information campaign tells us, heartburn that lasts more than 3 weeks could be a sign of stomach cancer or esophagus.
With around 9,000 new cases per year, stomach cancer ranks fifth among cancers in France. In Britain, nearly 13,000 people are diagnosed each year, which prompted health authorities to launch this screening campaign to improve the survival rate.
In the vast majority of cases (that is, more than nine times out of 10), it is an adenocarcinoma (a malignant tumor) which develops at the expense of the glands of the gastric mucosa. But sometimes this cancer can be a complication of a stomach ulcer. As the warning signs are not specific (nausea, heartburn, etc.), it is often diagnosed late and is responsible for more than 4,400 deaths per year.
Stomach cancer: symptoms
Like many cancers, the earlier cancer of the digestive tract is diagnosed, the more successful the treatment is. This is why the British health authorities are reminding you of the signs to look out for:
– Heartburn or nausea that comes and goes for more than 3 weeks
– The feeling that food gets stuck in the back of the throat when swallowing
– Frequent burping
– Weight loss for no reason
– A feeling of discomfort at the top of the stomach.
Read also :
How to eat after stomach cancer
Stomach cancer: a breath test to find it
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