Symptom 8: Anemia
If there’s one thing blood does exceptionally well, it’s transport. Think of blood as the body’s highway system, with red blood cells acting as the vehicles that shuttle oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When someone’s low on these “vehicles,” they suffer from a condition known as anemia. In relation to stomach cancer, anemia doesn’t just occur randomly. There’s often a sinister narrative behind it.
Stomach cancer can create circumstances that either reduce the production of red blood cells or lead to their significant loss. For instance, internal bleeding, a common occurrence with certain types of gastric cancer, can result in the loss of significant amounts of blood over time. This bleeding might be insidious and go unnoticed as the blood might be mixed with stools, turning them tar-black.
Moreover, the very nature of stomach cancer can lead to nutritional deficiencies. If one’s stomach struggles to process and absorb essential nutrients like vitamin B12 and iron, which play a crucial role in red blood cell production, anemia can set in. The consequential lack of oxygen transportation can manifest in various ways: fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, and even chest pains.
Detecting anemia can be a bit tricky, especially in the early stages. People might mistake the exhaustion and paleness as mere signs of aging or a busy lifestyle. But as the condition worsens, symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and cold hands and feet can emerge. Given its subtle onset, it’s paramount to undergo regular blood tests, especially if there’s a known risk or family history of gastric cancers. (8)
