9. Sudden Weight Loss: When Shedding Pounds Isn’t a Good Sign
Weight loss is often considered a positive development, but when it happens suddenly and without a clear reason, it should be a cause for concern. In the context of stomach cancer, unexplained weight loss could be due to the body’s inability to absorb nutrients properly or could result from a tumor taking up space and blocking the passage of food.
Such weight loss isn’t just the usual fluctuation you’d see on the scale; we’re talking about a significant drop that others start to notice. You might find that your clothes are fitting more loosely or that you’ve dropped a size or two within a very short time. While weight loss can be a symptom of various illnesses, including other types of cancer, it’s particularly concerning if you also have other symptoms on this list.
Stomach cancer can affect your body’s digestive and metabolic processes in multiple ways. First, a tumor could interfere with your stomach’s ability to store and digest food, leading to decreased absorption of nutrients.
Second, cancer cells consume a lot of energy, essentially ‘stealing’ nutrients that your healthy cells need. Combined with the nutrient malabsorption, this double-whammy effect can lead to dramatic weight loss.
The implications of unexplained weight loss extend beyond just physical changes. It can also have severe psychological and emotional effects. (9)
