Stomach Cancer in Young Adults

Stomach Cancer Symptoms in Young Adults​

Stomach or gastric cancer rarely affects young people but this does not rule out the possibility of its occurrence in such individuals. Symptoms seen in the age of young adulthood are not very outspoken and therefore may be confused with other diseases of the digestive system. Here are few signs that may be observed:

• Persistent indigestion or heartburn
• Loss of Appetite
• Unexplained weight loss
• Nausea or Vomiting
• Bloating after eating
• Mild stomach pain or discomfort
• Severe stomach pain
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Blood in stools (black, tarry stools)
• Fatigue or weakness due to anemia
• Swelling in the abdomen

Gastric Cancer in Young Adults​

Gastric cancer typically affects older patient, though it may affect patients of relatively young ages, including those 20s and 30s. It got worse in the young adults and tends to develop at a later stage owing to non-specific manifestation.

Stomach Cancer Risk Factors Under 40​

Stomach/ Gastric cancer often develops in persons over 40 years, but young people can be affected due to other genetic influences, and other risky lifestyles, or way of living with other diseases. These are the following risks:

Genetic & Hereditary Factors

• Family History: If an individual had a parent or sibling affected by stomach cancer, the risk is also high.
• Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC): An autosomal dominant gene CDH1 which is involved in proband level and positively associated with young abnormal stomach cancer.
• Lynch Syndrome: Pre-disposing persons to get various types of cancer such as Stomach cancer.

Infections & Stomach Conditions

• H. pylori infection: This is a bacterial infection that causes long-term inflammation of the stomach, ulcers, as well as increases the risk of cancer.
• Chronic Gastritis: Long-term stomach inflammation has an adverse effect on the stomach lining.
• Stomach Cancer: GERD is caused by the flow of stomach acid into the foods pipe and its frequent occurrences may result to cancer.
• Pernicious anemia: A form of anemia condition that is as a result of vitamin B12 deficiency to the stomach cells.

Diet & Lifestyle Factors

• High Salt & Processed Foods: They also cause damage to the stomach lining by using excess salt, pickles, smoked, and processed products.
• Too Much Salt: Excessive salt in the diet is also believed to cause cancer due to increased inflammation.
• Smoking and Alcohol: Smoking is injurious to the health of the stomach and alcohol affects the lining of the stomach.
• Obesity: This is a condition where one is over weighed and this can increase the stomach cancer risk.

Previous Medical Treatments

• Prior surgery on the stomach: Operations such as surgery for ulcers may have already changed the stomach’s acidity.
• Radiation therapy: Pre-radiation for abdomen raises the possibility.
• Prolonged use of NSAID: Frequent use of such painkillers as ibuprofen frequently leads to inflammation.

Autoimmune & Other Conditions

• Autoimmune gastritis: The individual’s immune system turns against the stomach lining.
• Epstein - Barr virus (EBV): Linked to some cases of stomach cancer.

Treatment Options for Young Stomach Cancer Patients​

The choice of the gastric cancer treatment in young people depends on the stage of a tumor, its localization and the general condition of a patient. Since younger people often develop aggressive type of gastric cancer therefore the management may require the use of multiple methods.

Surgery (Primary Treatment for Early-Stage Cancer)

If the cancer is diagnosed at a preliminary stage, it can be treated by operations to remove the tumour.

• Endoscopic Resection: Sometimes, adenocarcinomas are found in the early stages of growth, and the tumorous tissues can be resected using endoscopy.
• Partial Gastrectomy: Removes only the affected part of the stomach.
• Total Gastrectomy: If cancer has not remained confined to the stomach only, the whole stomach is then removed and the esophagus is sutured to the small intestine for the digestion process.

Chemotherapy (Before & After Surgery)

• Can be applied in the neo-adjuvant setting or before surgery, to reduce the size of tumor.
• They are given after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to eliminate any remaining cancer cells in the body.
• Can be used if the condition is seriously advanced and cannot be effectively operated on.

Radiation Therapy (For Targeted Tumor Destruction)

• Often combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation).
• May be used to reduce the size of tumor before surgery, or to kill remaining cancer cells after a surgery.

Targeted Therapy (For Advanced or HER2-Positive Cancer)

• Also newly operates to inhibit certain proteins that support cancer.
• HER2-Positive Stomach Cancer – Treated with Trastuzumab (Herceptin) along with chemo.
• VEGF-Targeted Therapy – Its use Ramucirumab (Cyramza), which interferes with blood vessels supplying the tumors.

Immunotherapy (For Advanced or Resistant Cancer)

• This increases the strength of the body to be able to fight the cancer cells causing sickness.
• Checkpoint Inhibitors like Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) and Opdivo (Nivolumab) work on the binding sites of PD-1 proteins to enhance immune response against cancer cells.
• Used sometimes when chemotherapy is not effective.

Palliative Care (For Late-Stage Cases)

• Currently it aims at providing relief from symptoms and enhancing the general well-being of the patient.
• Palliative Chemotherapy & Radiation – used in cases to shrink the tumours and thereby relieve pain.
• Nutritional Support – Feeding tubes or dietary modifications for those with difficulty eating.

Survival Rates of Young Adults with Stomach Cancer​

Young adults’ survival depends on the stage of cancer, treatment outcomes and the general well-being of the affected individual. Younger persons are healthier and can take treatment well, but stomach cancer in young people is more aggressive and diagnosed at a later stage making difference to survival.

5-Year Survival Rates by Stage

The percent of survivors is normally expressed by five year survival which means that the percentage of patients alive five years after the diagnose.

Cancer Stage 5-Year Survival Rate (%)

• Localized (Stage I) – It is restricted to the stomach 60% – 90%
• Stage II and III – cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the region 30 to 50 percent
• Distant (Stage IV) – The cancer has spread to other organs (metastatic) 5% to 20%

Signs of Stomach Cancer in Teenagers​​

Gastric cancer is a very low occurrence in teenagers, yet it is a possibility. It can be truly malicious and even when it does occur; it is usually diagnosed in its advance stages because publishing early signs can be similar to gastroesophageal reflux disease or gastritis.

• Persistent Indigestion or Heatburn
• Feeling Full Quickly
• Unexplained Weight Loss
• Loss of Appetite
• Mild Stomach Pain or Discomfort
• Bloating or Nausea

Preventing Stomach Cancer in Young Adults​

Despite the fact that the stomach cancer is rarely found in young people, it is possible to determine some additional factors such as the lifestyle, hereditary predispositions, and infections that may cause the disease. This means that, there are various things that one can do that may help to prevent the development of gastric cancer.

• Maintain a Healthy Diet
• Avoid H. pylori Infection
• Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol
• Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Manage Acid Reflux & Gastritis
• Check Family History & Genetic Risks
• Regular Health Check-ups & Early Detection

Stomach Cancer Awareness for Adolescents​

Stomach Cancer is very rare among the adolescents, though awareness is crucial since they are often diagnosed late because of atypical manifestations. Awareness of risk factors, symptoms, and the signs, may go a long way in improving early detection of the disease among the youth.

Understanding Stomach Cancer in Adolescents

• Genetic factors (family history, hereditary conditions like HDGC – Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer).
• Being the infection that may cause ulcers and chronic inflammation, H. pylori is a type of bacteria that affects people.
• Lifestyle factors including diet, fatty foods, processed foods, salty foods, smoked foods, drinking habits and cigarette smoking.
• Chronic acid reflux (GERD) or frequent stomach irritation.

Common Symptoms in Teens

• Persistent indigestion or bloating
• Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly.
• Unexplained weight loss
• Mild stomach pain or nausea

Here are some of the severe symptoms which must not be ignored:

• After several days of illness, there is still severe stomach pain.
• These are extreme conditions which include vomiting blood; this is a sign of internal bleed or stools that are black and sticky like tar.
• Difficulty swallowing
• Extreme fatigue or anemia (low red blood cell count)

Raising Awareness: How Adolescents Can Protect Themselves

Maintain a Healthy Diet:

• Take more fiber and other healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods.
• The Mediterranean diet also discourages processed meats, smoked foods and excessive use of salt.

Check for H. pylori Infection:

• People who frequently suffer from stomach aches or ulcers should go for H. pylori bacteria test.

Quit Smoking & Limit Alcohol:

• Smoking and alcohol consumption causes stomach cancer even among the youths.

Manage Stomach Health:

• The last meal taken late at night should be taken in small proportions and avoid foods that causes reflux like spicy and acidic foods.
• In case of chronic gastroesophageal reflux, it is advised that one should seek medical advice.

Know Your Family History:

• It could be advised to undertake testing if relative such as close family members suffered from stomach cancer.

Educating Teens & Schools about Stomach Cancer

Encourage Awareness Campaigns in Schools

• Stomach cancer should also be taught as part of the subject’s within health classes.
• Promote orientations/awareness campaigns on the functioning of the digestive system.
• It is equally important to incorporate participant’s stories to draw focus on the importance of early detection.

Promoting Routine Check-Up among High-Risk Adolescent Population

• Teenagers complaining of stomach ache, reflux issue or anemic issues must consult with a doctor.
• Encourage clients with a family history of the disease or have long standing symptoms to go for endoscopy.

Lifestyle Factors Contributing to Early Stomach Cancer

Stomach (gastric) cancer has been observed majorly in middle-aged or elders; however, the chances of early-onset of this cancer can result from specific Behavioral patterns. Such factors can be understood to enable early identification or even prevention of similar cases from happening in the future.

• Unhealthy Diet
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Infection
• Smoking & Alcohol
• Chronic Acid Reflux (GERD) & Poor Digestive Health
• Obesity & Sedentary Lifestyle
• Long-Term Use of Certain Medications
• Family History & Genetic Factors