The stomach cancer
The stomach is a hollow organ in the upper abdomen, under the
ribs.
It's part of the digestive system. Food moves from the mouth
through the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach, the food becomes liquid.
Muscles in the stomach wall push the liquid into the small intestine.
The wall of the stomach has five layers:
Inner layer or lining (mucosa): Juices made by
glands in the inner layer help digest food. Most stomach cancers begin in this
layer.
Submucosa: This is the support tissue for the inner layer.
Muscle layer: Muscles in this layer contract to mix and mash the
food.
Subserosa: This is the support tissue for the outer layer.
Outer layer (serosa): The outer layer covers the stomach. It
holds the stomach in place.
Understanding cancer
Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up
tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body.
Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body
needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body
does not need them, and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. The
buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth, polyp, or
tumor.
Tumors in the stomach can be benign (not cancer) or malignant
(cancer). Benign tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:
Benign tumors:
are rarely a threat to life
can be removed and usually don't grow back
don't invade the tissues around them
don't spread to other parts of the body
Malignant tumors:
may be a threat to life
often can be removed but sometimes grow back
can invade and damage nearby organs and tissues
can spread to other parts of the body
Stomach cancer usually begins in cells in the inner layer of the
stomach. Over time, the cancer may invade more deeply into the stomach wall. A
stomach tumor can grow through the stomach's outer layer into nearby organs,
such as the liver, pancreas, esophagus, or intestine.
Stomach cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the
original tumor. They enter blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into
all the tissues of the body. The cancer cells may be found in lymph nodes near
the stomach. The cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new
tumors that may damage those tissues.
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