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Diagnosis
If you have a symptom that suggests stomach cancer, your doctor must find out
whether it is really due to cancer or to some other cause. Your doctor may
refer you to a
gastroenterologist,
a doctor whose specialty is diagnosing and
treating digestive problems.
The doctor asks about your personal and family health history. You may have
blood or other lab tests. You also may have:
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Physical exam: The doctor checks your abdomen for fluid, swelling, or other
changes. The doctor also feels for swollen lymph nodes. Your skin and eyes are
checked to see if they seem yellow.
-
Upper GI series:
The doctor orders
x-rays
of your esophagus and stomach. The
x-rays are taken after you drink a
barium solution. The solution makes your
stomach show up more clearly on the x-rays.
-
Endoscopy:
The doctor uses a thin, lighted tube
(endoscope)
to look into your
stomach. The doctor first numbs your throat with an
anesthetic
spray. You also
may receive medicine to help you relax. The tube is passed through your mouth
and esophagus to the stomach.
-
Biopsy:
The doctor uses an endoscope to remove tissue from the stomach. A
pathologist
checks the tissue under a microscope for cancer cells. A biopsy is
the only sure way to know if cancer cells are present.
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You may want to ask your doctor these questions about having a biopsy:
- How will the biopsy be done?
- Will I have to go to the hospital?
- Will I have to do anything to prepare for it?
- How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
- Are there any risks? What are the chances of infection or bleeding after the procedure?
- How long will it take me to recover? When can I resume my normal diet?
- How soon will I know the results? Who will explain them to me?
- If I do have cancer, who will talk to me about next steps? When?
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