What is Stomach Cancer?
The University of Illinois Health Department paints a vivid picture of what stomach cancer is: Stomach cancer — also called gastric cancer — occurs when cancerous cells begin to grow in the lining of the stomach. The stomach wall has multiple layers, including the serosal layer, the muscularis propria, and the mucosal layer. The mucosal layer is the innermost layer, and where malignant or cancerous cells begin to grow. The malignant cells then spread outward. This means that cancerous cells can begin to grow in the lining of your stomach at virtually any time. It is a dangerous thing because most of us don’t necessarily spend a lot of time thinking about the lining of our stomach or our gastrointestinal health. However, maybe it is time that we all begin to rethink our lack of concern for this part of our body. After all, early detection of any form of cancer gives us the best hope of fighting back against it.Signs That You May Have Stomach Cancer
Every patient is unique, and it is impossible to make blanket statements about the signs and symptoms that a patient will experience if they have stomach cancer. All we know is that certain signs are commonly experienced by those with stomach cancer. Some of these symptoms include the following:- Poor appetite
- Uncontrolled weight loss
- Heartburn
- Feeling full after only eating a small meal
- Blood in your stool
- Feeling excessively weak or tired
- Swelling or fluid buildup in the abdomen
- Stomach pain
- Gastric ulcer
- Nausea
Natural Treatment Options for Stomach Cancer
Western and traditional medicinal practices have provided our society with wonderful advances in health outcomes and life expectancy, but they are not the end all be all of medicine. Rather, many people prefer to take a multi-pronged approach to deal with something as heavy as stomach cancer. Thus, they seek out natural or alternative treatment options alongside traditional methods. Today, we want to spend extra time looking at the natural treatments that one might consider for themselves as they contend with stomach cancer.Herbal Treatments Show Promise
The use of various herbs to aid in the healing and treatment process is something that communities have used for thousands of years. Yet, for some reason they don’t always get the respect that they deserve within the modern medical community. However, this is beginning to change as more and more tests are conducted on how herbs may be used as a treatment alternative. A report from the National Library of Medicine states that there were 13 clinical trials conducted showing that respondents taking herbal treatment along with chemotherapy had a much higher survival rate than respondents that solely relied on chemotherapy. There is already evidence that the following herbs and supplements may provide strong anti-inflammatory benefits for one’s GI system:- Ginseng
- Fiber
- Garlic
- Grape Seed
- Green Tea
- Vitamin B9
Routine Exercise
Regular exercise is good for your body as you work on combating cancer or any other ailment you face. It helps reduce stress levels in your body, and it is good for your muscles as well. Getting out and exercising does take some discipline on the part of the patient, but it provides so many wonderful upsides as well. Some research shows that regular exercise may help cancer patients live longer than they otherwise might have. It is believed that exercise bolsters the immune system, and the immune system is used to fight off illness of all kinds within the body. Thus, it makes sense that people might turn to exercise as a supplemental treatment option for their stomach cancer diagnosis.Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Increasing the amount of oxygen in one’s bloodstream may be an effective way of killing off cancer cells that are accustomed to a less oxygenizedLaser Cancer Therapy
The power of lasers is well-known and well-documented in the medical community. They are already used for procedures such as LASIK eye surgery. Now, patients can choose to go for laser cancer therapy as well. The lasers used in laser cancer treatment are so powerful that they are said to be able to cut through the cancerous tissue that is within the body. It is commonly the case that surgeons will use lasers during surgery procedures because lasers are more precise in their cutting abilities than are other blunt instruments. For the laser cancer care that we offer, three different types of lasers are used. They include:- Carbon Dioxide Lasers – These are used to remove cancer at the skin’s surface when possible. They cut the least deep of all of the lasers that we use, but they can still be an effective tool in the fight.
- Argon Lasers – This laser is similar to the CO2 laser in that it is best used to go after things like skin cancer and other surface-level cancers that one might be dealing with.
- YAG Lasers – This type of laser can penetrate deep into the cancerous tissues and destroy the cancer that is within you. It is an extremely effective way of getting rid of some of the cancer issues that you might be experiencing.
