Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer can occur in any part of the stomach especially the stomach body. It starts when cancer cells form inside the inner lining of the stomach, and takes a long time in growing and showing symptoms.

Early Stage Symptoms of stomach cancer include:

• Heartburn, especially after having food
• The bloated feeling after eating
• Indigestion, gas or constipation
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, dizziness and weakness

Stomach cancer rarely shows its presence in the early stages and that makes it worse. Even the symptoms are vague and very much like other diseases. Hence, Preventive Health Checkups play an important role in early detection of stomach cancer.

Some factors that increase the risk of developing stomach cancer:

• Being obese
• Consuming salty foods
• Not eating fruits and vegetables
• Habit of smoking
• Having a family history of stomach cancer
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• Gastritis
• Genetics
• Stomach polyps
• Type A blood
• Epstein-Barr virus infection

Ways to prevent stomach cancer:

• Maintain a healthy weight/BMI
• Consume a balanced diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables 
• Reduce salty and smoked foods 
• Quit smoking
• Be regular with your complete health checkup

Men are twice more prone than women to get affected by stomach cancer because they are more exposed to alcohol and smoking.

When the stomach cancer grows, symptoms become more serious, like:

• Stomach pain
• Blood in stool
• Vomiting
• Reasonless weight loss 
• Yellowish eyes or skin
• Swelling in the stomach region