Also known as gastric cancer, stomach cancer accounts for approximately 1.5% of all new cancer diagnoses in the United States.1 In the past 10 years, stomach cancer has continued to decline in the U.S. by about 1.5% per year; however, it’s the 5th most common type of cancer in the world.2 Men continue to report a 34% higher incident rate than women worldwide.
Risk Factors
While some individuals present with gastric cancer with no known risk factors, there may be others who are considered high risk yet escape illness. That said, research has shown that those who’ve been diagnosed with stomach cancer have one or more contributing factors. Some of the most common are included here.3
- Age: The typical age at diagnosis is 65 or older.
- Diet: Diets with high sodium content; smoked, processed, or grilled meat; and pickled foods are high risk.
- Weight: Obesity is a major contributor.
- Heredity: Gene mutations inherited from a parent could put individuals at greater risk.
- Smoking: Smokers are particularly susceptible to cancer in the upper stomach region.
- Alcohol: While alcohol usage alone isn’t a significant risk factor, reported incidents increase considerably when combined with tobacco usage.
- Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): Although research for an effective H. Pylori treatment and the carcinogen’s specific connection to stomach cancer is ongoing, there’s an indisputable link between the bacteria that infects the stomach lining and an increased risk of the disease. Types of Stomach Cancer
Although the stomach is often used as a catch-all word to refer to the entire abdominal region, it’s actually one part of the body’s digestive system. The stomach is the sac-like organ that, together with the stomach wall, secretes the gastric juices necessary to break down food and provide the body with the nutrients it needs as it moves the pieces from the esophagus and into the small intestine. Because each of the abdomen’s organs provides a unique structure and function, the cancers affecting each may exhibit distinct symptoms and require different treatments.4
Stomach cancer typically develops over many years, which is why it’s most often diagnosed in older adults. It occurs gradually as the DNA changes within the stomach cells. They eventually over-multiply and form tumors.
There are several types of stomach cancer, and most of them begin in the mucosa, which is the innermost layer of the stomach wall. Treatment and prognosis vary depending on how far the cancer’s advanced through the stomach wall’s five layers.
Adenocarcinomas
Developing in the innermost lining of the stomach wall, adenocarcinomas accounts for approximately 95% of all stomach cancers, and adenocarcinomas can be further divided into two categories.
- Intestinal: The gene changes may offer a more positive prognosis of the two types.
- Diffuse: A faster-growing type of adenocarcinomas, it’s also more difficult to treat.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Although rare, GISTs may begin in any part of the digestive system; however, they usually form as stomach wall cells and spread to other parts of the body.
Neuroendocrine tumors
NETs typically begin in stomach cells; however, like GISTs, they can form in a digestive system cell. They mimic nerve or endocrine cells and are usually slow growing.
Lymphomas
While lymphomas can start in stomach wall cells, they most often begin in immune system cells. Treatment and prognosis depend on the lymphomas’ location and other variables.
Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer symptoms vary depending on the stage or progression of the disease.5
Early Stomach Cancer Symptoms
There are a total of five stomach cancer stages. Often, early stomach cancer symptoms may go unnoticed as they mimic other less severe conditions, such as the following.
- Indigestion
- Appetite loss
- Nausea
- Full or bloated feeling
- Abdominal pain
Advanced Stomach Cancer Symptoms
As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced. This is the stage at which many sufferers begin to notice marked abnormalities in their routines and overall health.
- Unexplained or rapid weight loss
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Difficulty swallowing
- Jaundice
- Stomach ulcer
Immunity Therapy Clinic Can Help You Treat Stomach Cancer
Many of our patients come to the Immunity Therapy Clinic after completing invasive surgeries and participating in an exhausting schedule of traditional treatments. Medications and procedures, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, total gastrectomy surgery, and other forms of stomach cancer treatment, offer proven results in reducing stomach cancer. However, in the course of freeing the body of its damaged cancer cells, harsh treatments also weaken its natural defenses and immune system.
Through what’s known as immunosuppression, patients may become more susceptible to infections. In other words, the good white cells, or neutrophils, are also negatively affected, losing their efficacy in the fight against germs.6
ITC provides patients with alternative treatments and natural pain relief for stomach cancer, offering natural solutions to help improve the recovery process by working in tandem with more traditional cancer care.
ITC’s Stomach Cancer Care Alternative Treatments
After a thorough evaluation, you and your team at ITC may agree on an alternative treatment course that could include the following as well as other options:
Intratumoral Immunotherapy
Rather than injecting anticancer immuno-antibodies intravenously, as is the conventional standard, the intratumoral immunotherapy method injects the antibodies directly into the tumor. The benefit is that by targeting and effectively destroying the cancerous cell, the treatment requires a smaller quantity of medication while reducing the body’s adverse effects.
Gerson Therapy
In keeping with our holistic approach to treating stomach cancer, ITC promotes a healthy diet and lifestyle. Through Gerson Therapy, we develop a three-component regimen.
- Vegetarian diet
- Daily supplements
- Detoxification
Laser Cancer Treatment
Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation uses a strong light beam to precisely target and penetrate cancerous tissue, effectively destroying it with minimal effects on the surrounding tissue. The following laser cancer treatment options also result in a less painful recovery.
Carbon Dioxide Lasers
Used to remove surface-level cancers, such as skin cancer and early-stage cancer.
Argon Lasers
Often used with photodynamic therapy, argon lasers seal blood vessels during radiation therapy and help prevent bleeding.
Nd: YAG Lasers
Using heat, this laser targets and destroys the tumor’s cancerous cells.
Psycho-Spiritual Therapy
Another aspect of the holistic approach to cancer treatment is embracing your spiritual dimension through psycho-spiritual therapy. We work with you to promote your psychic health and relieve tension, allowing for greater personal growth and well-being.
DMSO Potentiation Therapy
With a DMSO dosage tailored to meet your health and personal needs, DPT works with other cancer treating drugs by helping them to penetrate the cancer cells, and subsequently, requiring a lower dosage of medication. Because the DMSO bypasses the digestive tract and acids, the medication is more effectively absorbed into the system. An added benefit of DMSO for cancer treatment is that it allows the individual to receive healing nutrients even while unable to eat.
Localized Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment
Localized hyperthermia cancer treatment is based on research that supports using high temperatures of 113 degrees to heat body tissue, subsequently killing cancer cells without injuring healthy tissue. Often combined with other types of treatment, localized hyperthermia targets a cancer cell’s proteins, and other structures, resulting in smaller tumors.
Natural Halotherapy for Cancer
Also known as biophotonic therapy, natural halotherapy utilizes botanicals combined with a specific exposure wavelength of light to penetrate the skin and induce metabolic changes that heal tissue and reduce inflammation, promoting improved respiratory health.
Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation
One of the key components for combating cancer is maintaining a healthy immune system. While killing damaged cells, cancer treatments also have a supplemental effect of reducing appetite, leaving patients with a nutrient deficiency and a reduced ability to combat the greater risk of illness. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be administered by taking a daily tablet orally, intravenously, or by injection.
ITC’s Cancer Care Alternatives and Natural Treatments for Gastric Cancer Patients
Immunity Therapy Center‘s Dr. Carlos Bautista is a Board Certified Medical Doctor. He and his team of dedicated and experienced medical professionals work with the individual to develop a unique holistic treatment plan based on your current stomach cancer diagnosis and disease progression. Our goal is to improve your quality of life and prognosis. Reach out for a phone consultation by calling (619) 375-1242, or contact us by completing an initial online form to inquire about our effective alternative stomach cancer treatments.
Written By: Dr. Pablo Orozco
Dr. Pablo Orozco is a Board Certified Medical Doctor from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
Dr. Orozco has been a treating physician at the Immunity Therapy Center for more than 3 years providing daily on site patient care. He works with patients on a daily basis and guides them through the treatment process. Dr. Orozco’s passion for Alternative Cancer Treatments along with his commitment to patient care is key to insure that our patients have the best experience and results possible.
Sources:
- American Cancer Society. “Key Statistics About Stomach Cancer.” https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8838.00.pdf
- World Cancer Research Fund International. “Stomach cancer statistics.” https://www.wcrf.org/cancer-trends/stomach-cancer-statistics/
- PubMed Central. “Gastric cancer: prevention, risk factors and treatment.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4017429/
- American Cancer Society. “What Is Stomach Cancer?” https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/about/what-is-stomach-cancer.html
- National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. “Gastric Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version.” https://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach/patient/stomach-treatment-pdq
- American Cancer Society. “Why People with Cancer Are More Likely To Get Infections.” https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/infections/why-people-with-cancer-are-at-risk.html#:~:text=Certain%20cancer%20treatments%20(such%20as,and%20other%20immune%20system%20cells/
At Immunity Therapy Center, our goal is to provide objective, updated, and research-based information on all health-related topics. This article is based on scientific research and/or other scientific articles. All information has been fact-checked and reviewed by Dr. Carlos Bautista, a Board Certified Medical Doctor at Immunity Therapy Center. All information published on the site must undergo an extensive review process to ensure accuracy. This article contains trusted sources with all references hyperlinked for the reader's visibility.