I am 50, female. Do my signs indicate stomach cancer?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 50-year-old working woman with a history of acid reflux, but these recent symptoms feel different. I have been experiencing persistent stomach discomfort, and some occasional indigestion too. I am concerned as I have been losing weight, and my dad also has stomach issues. Kindly answer the following questions:

Are these symptoms related to stomach cancer?
Are there specific signs I should watch for?
How does stomach cancer typically present itself, and are there any risk factors I should be aware of?

Your insights would be greatly appreciated. Kindly help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Stomach symptoms can be resolving symptoms or non-resolving symptoms after medications. I suggest you follow the instructions:

If you have already used antacid syrup like Gaviscon (Sodium alginate) and acid suppression medicine like Pantoprazole 40mg half an hour before breakfast for a good two weeks, and your symptoms are still persistent, this needs to be evaluated further.
Stomach issues are common in families, but whether your father had stomach cancer or not matters.
Unintentional weight loss, especially unintentional, would never be considered normal; you have to monitor your body weight regularly.
Other alarming features are food stuck in the food pipe, blood or black-colored vomiting, an upper abdominal lump, etc.
Considering your age and as you are professionally active, I guess it will be great if you can visit a nearby physician to get your physical examination and some baseline laboratory investigations
If there is anything abnormal, an endoscopy would be the single best test to answer all your concerns. Do not hesitate for an endoscopy if needed, especially at your age.
It is far better to get checked and get it cleared as compared to monitoring the symptoms and getting disturbed about it.

I hope this information will help you.

Thank you.