November is stomach cancer awareness month.
Do you know the risk factors?
“Lifestyle” risks – behaviours and activities you can change – include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Diets high in processed foods
- Diets lacking in fresh vegetables and fruits
Other risks include
- Family History of Stomach Cancer
- Age greater than 50 years
- Type A blood
- Bacterial infections of the stomach and abdomen
Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer can include:
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Bloating
- Sense of fullness after eating small amounts of food (also called early satiety)
- Abdominal pain or vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the navel
- Heartburn, indigestion or ulcer-type symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting, with or without blood
