What is a Gastric Adenocarcinoma?

A gastric adenocarcinoma is a malignant growth inside the stomach that arises from glandular cells. Around 90% of stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, making this type of growth the most common form of stomach cancer. Patients with gastric adenocarcinomas receive treatment from specialists such as gastroenterology consultants and oncologists. The prognosis for a patient with a gastric adenocarcinoma can vary, depending on when the growth is identified and the standard of care received.

At one point, stomach cancer was one of the most common cancers in the world. Rates have declined worldwide and research suggests that this is due to changes in the human diet, namely the consumption of more fresh foods and less preserved and salted foods. In addition, infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori has been linked with stomach cancer and other cellular changes like ulcerations in the stomach lining, and the incidence of this bacterium in the human population is on the decline.

When a gastric adenocarcinoma develops, it is not uncommon for patients to experience few symptoms in the early stages. The growth can start to penetrate the layers of the stomach lining and may spread to other regions of the body. As the cancer grows, patients can develop symptoms like nausea, vomiting, weight loss, disinterest in food, an uncomfortable feeling of fullness, palpable masses in the stomach, diarrhea, indigestion, and heartburn. Endoscopy to visualize the interior of the stomach can be used to identify the adenocarcinoma and a biopsy sample may be taken to stage the cancer.

Gastrectomy, surgical removal of the stomach, is often recommended to treat gastric adenocarcinoma because the growth is very aggressive. Cancers at early stages may be treatable with chemotherapy and radiation alone. Chemo and radiation are also usually recommended after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. The earlier the cancer is caught, the better the potential outcome for the patient. Advanced gastric adenocarcinoma can have a very low survival rate, even with very high quality care.

Some patients with gastric adenocarcinoma find it helpful to join a support group or patient advocacy organization. Such groups can provide people with a network of individuals who can offer help during the process of undergoing cancer treatment. In addition, they may provide access to clinical trials and other information that could open up new treatment possibilities, such as medications provided by pharmaceutical companies for compassionate use in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma.