Home >> CANCER OF THE STOMACH — CARCINOMAE

CANCER OF THE STOMACH — CARCINOMA

By Dr. T. VISHNU MURTHY
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According to the researches there are three different forms of cancer of the stomach:

  1. Scirrhus, a fabulous growth in which the connective tissue stroma predominates over the cell formation, generally originates in the submuconus cellular tissue.
  2. Carcinoma medullaris, a narrow like growth, in which cancer cells predominate over the stroma, forms round isolated lumps in the mucous membrane of the stomach.
  3. Carcinoma Alveolaris, a jelly-like growth in which we observe a colloid degeneration of the cancer cells, invests as first the sub mucous cellular tissue, but penetrates frequently to the peritoneum and forms large tumour upon it. All three kinds of cancer may often be seen together; and they most invest the pylorus, sometimes the lesser curvature, still rarer the cardia, and most rarely other parts of the stomach.

It is often the case, that the diseased pylorus forms adhesions with adjoining organs, such as the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and colon, which are mostly invested by the same morbid product, keeping the stomach in a fixed position. When, how ever adhesions do not take place, the stomach sinks, in consequence of its increased weight, lower down into the abdominal cavity; remaining there, either perfectly free and movable, or adhering to organs lower down such as portions of the intestines, the uterus, or its appendages.

PSORIAIS - Disorder production of skin cells

The inner cavity of the stomach is much changed by this disease. It becomes greatly enlarged by structure of the pylorus, or much diminished by structure of the cardia; there is cancerous degeneration of the coatings of the stomach. The mucous membrane, in the neighbourhood of the cancer exhibits chronic catarrhal inflammation, which is sometimes spread all over it; and in the further progress of the disease, ulceration and erosion of smaller or larger blood - vessels with consecutive haemorrhage obtain.

The causes of carcinoma of the stomach we do not know, just as the causes of cancer in any part of body, according to my research which ever organ in the stomach is getting weakness frequently can affect carcinoma or heredity seems to deserve some amount of consideration. The disease has been observed most frequently between the years of fifty to seventy.

SYMPTOMS:

  1. General cancer - cachexia; emaciation; paleness of the skin and the mucous membranes; ash coloured or yellowish colour of the face; brittle; dry, harsh and wrinkled skin; peeling of branny scales, especially from lower extremities. The expression of the face is sad; the eyes are fallen in; the malar bones stick out; the ankles are cedematous.
  2. Tumour in the pit of the stomach: This is present, however, only when the Cancer invests the pylorus. In this case we observe a roundish, or oval, or irregular lump to the right above the navel under the upper part of the right rectus abdominal muscle. It is always there, and can not be moved, of the pylorus should have formed adhesions with neighbouring organs; but it changes position and is movable, when those adhesions are not moved. In this later case it gradually sinks down into the abdominal cavity, and may appear below the navel, or even but little above the symphysis pubis either as a movable or fixed tumour. But when the pylorus-carcinoma is covered by the left lobe of the liver, or by a distended colon, is can not be felt. The same is true, when carcinoma has its seat on the cardia or on the lesser curvature. Cancerous degeneration of the anterior wall of the stomach is felt as a resisting mass in the epigastsrium, changing position, however, according to the stomach may be felt more towards the right or towards the left side, higher up or lower down, even below the navel.
  3. The stricture of the pylorus causes, further, a sinking in of the abdomen; the intestines are empty, because the food is prevented from going through pylorus; the abdominal walls are thin , wrinkled, like parachment; they may be lifted up in folds which remain the subcutaneous cellular tissue is wasted away and the full percussion sound is wanting. The spine even may be felt through the abdominal walls, and the aorta descendens pulsates perceptibly. When there is a structure of the cardia the epigastric region is fallen in because not sufficient nourishment is allowed to enter the stomach; the intestines are likewise empty, only the ribs and the processus xyphoideus protrude..
  4. Vomiting This happens if there is a stricture of the pylorus, generally from four to five hours after eating. The masses which are thrown up are digested. In case of stricture of the cardia, the vomiting takes place immediately after or even during eating, without nausea or exertion; it is only a regurgitation of the swallowed food. If diverticles or widenings of the oesophagus exist at the same time, the vomiting follows a little later. The masses which are thrown up are the same swallowed. If the cancer has its seat at another part of the stomach, the vomiting may be entirely absent; or it may, after having been regular for a time, slacken off and cease altogether. So also the vomiting may cease if the stricture of the pylorus, by softening, gets removed, or if the walls of the stomach, by diffused cancerous degeneration, lose all power of contractions.
  5. Haemorrhages from the stomach. The blood is thrown up either decomposed as a brownish, chocolate-like mass, or when larger blood-vessels have been destroyed, as clear blood.
  6. The pain in the epigastrium, which has its seat generally in the cancerous tumour, is worse from eating, usually of a lancinating or burning character, and never extending to the spine; it may be absent altogether.
  7. The appetite is generally diminished; in some cases, how ever it is increased; but the patients are afraid to eat, because of the following pain and vomiting.
  8. The stool is usually retarded; but when the cancerous growth softens and dissolves, we observe colliquative diarrhoea, and when there is haemorrhage in the stomach, bloody evacuations.

Cancer is distinguished from cardialgia in that it grows uninterruptedly and gradually, whilst cardialgia comes in spells, with intervals of health; further, by the age of the person, and its inroads upon the general constitution.

Treatment is based on the pulse test and the body condition will be given medicine by the preparation of individual formula .