In its earlier stages, stomach cancer notoriously lacks symptoms, and that is exactly
why this disease is so dangerous.
People often brush off early symptoms of stomach cancer thinking that they are experiencing common digestive issues, but they do have a point since those symptoms
really do feel like that.

One of the earliest symptoms is persistent discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen.
This is not an acute pain but rather an unpleasant feeling of pressure that comes back
repeatedly.
It appears in the area under the breastbone and does not go away completely as in case
of regular digestion disorders.
At the same time, most patients experience early satiety during their meals, which
means that they get the feeling of being full very quickly ÿ usually when half of the
portion is consumed.

Frequent heartburn experienced for the first time by a person older than 45 is considered an important symptom.
So is frequent vomiting and nausea that are experienced regularly for no apparent
reason ÿ they are not related to an upset stomach or any food poisoning symptoms.
Bloating and belching should also be included into this group.

What surprises physicians is the presence of unintentional weight loss accompanying the
above features.
The patient hasn't started dieting.
There haven't been any changes.
The weight simply disappears along with the combination of decreased appetite, feeling
of satiety, and weight loss ÿ these are the symptoms that require examination rather
than consolation.

Fatigue caused by the unnoticeable gastrointestinal bleeding is another early warning
sign that appears long before any blood becomes noticeable anywhere.
It is experienced as fatigue without an apparent cause, accompanied sometimes by
paleness.

Unfortunately, none of these symptoms are characteristic only for gastric cancer.
These symptoms are often associated with ulcers, gastritis, and reflux disease.
However, prolonged complaints (more than two or three weeks) in a person older than
40 with relevant medical or genetic predisposition need further diagnosis through
endoscopy.

Full story:
https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-first-signs-of-stomach-cancer

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