Early cancer symptom can show up during breakfast, lunch and dinner NHS warns

The NHS has issued a warning about several ‘subtle’ signs of stomach cancer that should not be ignored, particularly when eating. A symptom that might raise alarm bells is feeling unusually full after just a few mouthfuls of food.

According to the NHS, this could indicate stomach cancer, known as gastric cancer, which is a less common but serious disease. Feeling rapidly full during meals is a sign that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Consulting with your doctor is advisable to exclude any potential health issues, including stomach cancer, is important. Neglecting such symptoms may lead to malnutrition and unintentional weight loss.

Stomach cancer’s early symptoms can be deceptive, often resembling less severe conditions, which complicates early diagnosis. Key early indicators include unexpected weight loss and unexplained stomach or back pain, prompting advice to see a GP for assessment, reports Surrey Live. Some of the early signs to watch for include:

• persistent indigestion
• trapped wind and frequent burping
• heartburn
• feeling full very quickly when eating
• feeling bloated after eating
• feeling sick
• pain in your stomach or breastbone
• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• vomiting (the vomit may be streaked with blood), although this is uncommon in the early stages

For those with more advanced stages of stomach cancer, the NHS lists additional symptoms to be aware of:

• blood in your stools, or black stools
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• tiredness
• lumpiness and swelling in your stomach (caused by a build-up of fluid)
• anaemia (a reduced number of red blood cells that can cause you to feel tired and breathless)
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

The health service emphasises the importance of prompt medical attention, stating: “As the early symptoms of stomach cancer are similar to those of many other conditions, the cancer is often advanced by the time it’s diagnosed. It’s therefore important to get any possible symptoms of stomach cancer checked by your GP as soon as possible.”

You might consider having smaller meals more frequently, reducing your fat and fibre intake, consuming foods in liquid or puree form, contemplating appetite stimulants, and exploring medications that can alleviate stomach discomfort.

Feeling full after eating a small amount is typically called early satiety. This condition may be accompanied by other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, weight loss, stomach pain, and heartburn. Besides a potential stomach or abdominal tumour, there are other possible causes for this sensation, such as:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Peptic ulcers
• Gastroparesis
• Gastric outlet obstruction
• Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs)

It’s crucial to seek medical help promptly if you suspect stomach cancer. This type of cancer is generally more treatable when detected early, so your GP needs to refer you to a specialist without delay if there’s any suspicion of the disease.

Stomach cancer predominantly affects older adults, with 90% of cases occurring in individuals over the age of 55. Indigestion is a common issue for many people, but it’s rare for someone under 55 with this symptom to have stomach cancer.

If you experience indigestion along with weight loss, anaemia, or ongoing vomiting, it’s important to consult your GP, who can then refer you for further evaluation.

Additionally, if you’re having trouble swallowing, seeing your GP is essential. This symptom is not common and should always be thoroughly examined.

The exact cause of stomach cancer remains uncertain, but your risk increases if you are male, over the age of 55, and smoke. Other factors can also increase your risk, including:

• having a diet low in fibre and high in processed food or red meat
• having a diet that contains a lot of salted and pickled foods
• having a stomach infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria

Stomach cancer manifests in various forms. Over 95% are adenocarcinomas, originating from the cells lining the stomach.

Other less common types include stomach lymphoma, which develops from the lymphatic tissue responsible for fluid drainage and infection defence, and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), forming in the muscle or connective tissue of the stomach wall.

The NHS outlines three ways stomach cancer can spread:

• Directly – the cancer can spread from the stomach into nearby tissues and organs, such as the pancreas, colon, small intestine and peritoneum (the lining of the inside of the abdominal cavity)
• Through the lymphatic system – the lymphatic system is a series of glands (nodes) located throughout your body, similar to the blood circulatory system; the glands produce specialised cells needed by your immune system to fight infection
• Through the blood – which can cause the cancer to spread from the stomach to other parts of the body, most commonly the liver

Metastatic stomach cancer is when it spreads to another part of the body. Stomach cancer arises from changes in the stomach cells, though the exact reasons for these alterations remain unclear. It begins with a mutation in the DNA of the cells, disrupting their normal growth patterns.

Consequently, these cells may grow and multiply uncontrollably, forming a mass known as a tumour. If not treated, cancer can spread to other areas of the body, typically through the lymphatic system, a network of vessels and lymph nodes distributed throughout the body.

Once cancer infiltrates the lymphatic system, it can disseminate to various body parts, including the bloodstream, bones, and other organs. The specific triggers for the DNA changes leading to stomach cancer are still unknown, and it remains a mystery why only a small fraction of individuals develop this disease.

Stomach cancer can often pose a significant challenge to treat. However, methods are available to manage symptoms and improve quality of life, such as chemotherapy and, in some instances, radiotherapy and surgery.

If the cancer is operable, surgery could potentially eradicate the disease, assuming all cancerous tissue is successfully removed. A gastrectomy, which involves removing part or all of the stomach, is one such procedure.

Normal eating habits can be maintained post-surgery, although portion sizes may need to be adjusted. Chemotherapy might also be used pre-surgery to shrink the tumour and post-surgery to help prevent a recurrence of the cancer.

Stomach cancer is the 18th most common cancer in the UK. In females, it’s the 19th most common cancer. In males, it’s the 14th most common cancer. Incidence rates have decreased by almost three-fifths since the early 1990s.