The doctor suggest the test just after administrating the physical examination of patient and in this way he try to determine the cause of Stomach cancer. The doctor also consider certain factors such as age, previous test result , severity of symptoms before recommending the test to the patient.

Blood test used in the Diagnosis process of Stomach Tumor:

Here are some tests that are employed during the Stomach Cancer Diagnosis:

Fecal occult blood test

It is administered to get the clear indication of stomach cancer or other gastrointestinal cancers. In this test the doctor detect microsopic blood in the stool.

Complete blood count (CBC)

A very simple test in which the counting of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets are performed by the physician.

Other test for the diagnosis of Stomach Cancer:

Barium Swallow:

This test is used along with x-ray, a thick chalky liquid barium is swallowed by the patient that coats the esophagus and stomach area. In this way the abnormal areas are highlighted on the x-ray film.

Gastroscopy:

In Gastroscopy  , the physician inserted, gastroscope, a thin flexible tube  that has the light and camera on the tip , into the stomach by the way of mouth and esophagus. With the mean if this tube the physician find it easy to see inside stomach and thereby come to know about the stomach tumor growth.

Sometimes the biopsy, the removal of a sample tissue for microscopic examination by pathologist, is performed together with gastroscopy. This is made possible by passing a small instrument into the tube. During this procedure, the doctor uses the local anesthetic.

Imaging tests used for the diagnosis of Stomach cancer are as follows:

• X-ray:
• This test is performed to take the inside picture of the body. The doctor may suggest the chest x-ray so that he came to know whether the tumor is spread to lungs or not.
• Computed Tomography (CT scan or CAT scan)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emissin Tomography PET scan
• Laparoscopy

Here are some risk factors that may become the causes of Stomach cancer:

Helicobacter Pylori Infection:

H.Pylori is a special kind of bacteria that become a cause of infection in the mucosa, the inner lining of stomach. Sometimes Stomach cancer is resulted due to H.Pylori infection. There are rare cases in which this bacterial infection turns to be cancer of Stomach.

Studies have found the following risk factors for stomach cancer:

Long-term stomach Inflammation:

It has been observed that the risk of cancer tend to be increase in those  People who removed a part of their stomach as this condition resulted in  long-term stomach inflammation . Sometimes the blood disease pernicious anemia victim is affected by Stomach Cancer.

Smoking:

The smokers have more risk of Stomach Cancer in comparison of non-smokers. The chain smokers have high risk of this cancer.

Family history:

This factor is also considerable in case of stomach cancer. It has been seen that the people, who have close relatives like parents or sisters or brother with this cancer, are also affected by Stomach Cancer.

Diet:

The poor and non- nutritional diet also caused the stomach cancer. According to some report the diet high with smoked, pickle or salted flavor may result in this cancer. The risk of disease is drops down when a person eat the food that includes fruits and vegetables.

Obesity:

The obesity problem in the person also becomes a cause of stomach cancer.

Physical activity:

The people who remain active have less risk of stomach cancer than that of  a person who are less active.

There are some early symptoms but they are usually mistaken for heartburn or indigestion. It is currently believed that between 60 and 80 percent of stomach cancers are caused by a microorganism that can live in the stomach. It has also been shown that more men are affected by stomach cancer than women by a ratio of three to one possibly due to Estrogen.

There are several types of stomach cancer although the most common type is adenocarcinoma and starts in the glandular cells of the stomach lining. Later symptoms of stomach cancer include loss of appetite, losing weight and blood in the stools; however it should be noted that most people with these symptoms will not have cancer. Although it is advisable to see a doctor if such symptoms do occur.

To diagnose whether or not a patient has stomach cancer an endoscopic test is carried out which involves sending a long thin tube with a camera down into the stomach it is used to take pictures of the stomach lining and take samples for a biopsy. A Barium meal may also be used, the patient drinks a white solution that is easier to see on an x-ray.

If the cancer is caught in time it is possible that the cancer can be removed however in most cases that will include removing part or all of the stomach. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be used to control the cancer itself.