Stomach (Gastric) cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, ranking 3rd of the 10 most common cancers. In the early stage, the disease rarely has symptoms, so often stomach cancer is diagnosed in a late stage. The prognosis of the patient in the late stage is very bad, rarely living more than 5 years. The cause of the disease is believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

However, this is a preventable disease, in developed countries such as Japan and Korea, where stomach cancer is very common, mass screening of the population has helped find many cases at an early, curable stage. 

The exact reason for why one person develops stomach cancer and another does not remains unclear. However, studies show that the following factors may increase your risk for developing stomach cancer: age, genetics, Helicobacter Pylori infection, smoking, drinking alcohol, diet, acid reflux, radiation.

  • Poor diet, lack of exercise, or obesity: Eating a diet high in foods that are smoked, salted or pickled increases stomach cancer risk as does low levels of physical activity and being overweight.
  • Helicobacter pylori infection: This bacterium commonly infects the inner lining (the mucosa) of the stomach. Not everyone with H. pylori infection develops stomach cancer. Two-thirds of the world’s population is estimated to harbor H. pylori in their stomachs with infection rates higher in developing countries than developed nations. The bacterium is believed to spread through contaminated water and food, or direct mouth-to-mouth contact. Although most people don’t become ill from the infection, the bacterium is responsible for most peptic ulcers and other stomach and upper small intestine ulcers.

Phòng tránh và phát  hiện sớm ung thư dạ dày

  • Acid reflux from the stomach into the esophagus takes many years to change the cells in the esophageal lining, forming Barret esophagus. Barret of the esophagus is a precursor-malignant lesion that will turn to cancer.
  • Family history: Close relatives (parents, siblings, or children) of a person with a history of stomach cancer are somewhat more likely to develop the disease themselves. If many close relatives have a history of stomach cancer, the risk is even greater.
  • Smoking: Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop stomach cancer. Heavy smokers face the greatest risk.
  • Age: There is a sharp increase in stomach cancer rates in people over age 50, pre-malignant lesions may have appeared many years earlier.

Early stomach cancer usually has no symptoms or has vague symptoms like normal stomach pain. Therefore, if you wait for symptoms to appear, then you often diagnose the disease in a late stage. In Korea and Japan all citizens over the age of 40 are screened for gastric cancer by either gastroscopy or gastric photofluorography.

Phòng tránh và phát  hiện sớm ung thư dạ dày

In Vietnam, stomach cancer is a fairly common cancer, so people over 40-50 years old who don't have any symptoms should go for a gastroscopy, at least once to see in the stomach. There are early signs of cancer or precancerous damage.

According to Dr. Le Thanh Sang, Head of Endoscopy at City International Hospital, with more than 30 years of experience in gastrointestinal endoscopy, it is important to pay attention to warning signs that require early colonoscopy even at any place. at any age, these are the signs: anemia, iron deficiency, weight loss, loss of appetite, symptoms of digestive disorders recently appeared, vomiting blood, black stools, difficulty swallowing. To make it easy to remember, in English it was rewritten to ALARM, which means warning.

  • Anaemia
  • Loss of weight
  • Anorexia
  • Recent on set of progressive symtoms
  • Melaena / haematemesis
  • Swallowing difficulty

At City International Hospital, we use the most advanced techniques available today such as high definition endoscopes (HD standard), NBI techniques combined with good anesthetic to help patients not feel pain due to This allows the doctor to have enough time to carefully examine the areas of the stomach to detect precancerous and cancerous lesions at a very early stage.

What is a NBI endoscopy? Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) has set a new standard for endoscopy. Olympus Narrow Band Imaging (NBI) is an optical technology available for a variety of medical disciplines which helps to visualize the minutest vascular and mucosal patterns. NBI uses only wavelengths absorbed by hemoglobin for maximum contrast. A number of studies highlight the clinical value of NBI, especially with regard to the detection of cancer and characterization of suspicious mucosal areas. Compared to white-light endoscopy, the images of capillaries are less blurred and the probability of missing a lesion is reduced..

Promotional information: 

Flat 30% Discount on the Cost of an GI Endoscopy Afternoon Procedure. Effective 10 October to 31 December, 2020. 

Take charge of your health and schedule an appointment with City International Hospital today. We offer a wide variety of services for exceptional treatment and care for you and your family. Contact us today at (028) 6280 3333 or 0906 483 134 (Ms. Tâm) to schedule an appointment.

City International Hospital

  • Address: No. 3, 17A Street, Binh Tri Dong B Ward, Binh Tan Dist. (Next to AEON Mall Binh Tan). Ho Chi Minh City.
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