Stomach Cancer
<p >Stomach cancer is often either <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asymptomatic" title="Asymptomatic" >asymptomatic</a> (producing no noticeable symptoms) or it may cause only <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonspecific_symptoms" title="Nonspecific symptoms" class="mw-redirect" >nonspecific symptoms</a> (symptoms which are not specific to just stomach cancer, but also to other related or unrelated disorders) in its early stages. </p>
<p>
By the time symptoms occur, the cancer has often reached an advanced stage (see below) and may have also metastasized (spread to other, perhaps distant, parts of the body), which is one of the main reasons for its relatively poor prognosis.<sup class="Template-Fact" >[<i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a></i>]</sup> </p>
<p>
Stomach cancer can cause the following signs and symptoms:
<b>Stage 1 (Early)</b></p>
<ul >
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigestion" title="Indigestion" class="mw-redirect" >Indigestion</a> or a burning sensation (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartburn" title="Heartburn" >heartburn</a>)</li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_of_appetite" title="Loss of appetite" class="mw-redirect" >Loss of appetite</a>, especially for meat</li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdominal_pain" title="Abdominal pain" >Abdominal discomfort</a> or irritation</li>
</ul>
<p >
<b>Stage 2 (Middle)</b></p>
<ul >
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weakness" title="Weakness" >Weakness</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatigue_(physical)" title="Fatigue (physical)" class="mw-redirect" >fatigue</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloating" title="Bloating" >Bloating</a> of the stomach, usually after meals</li>
</ul>
<p >
<b>Stage 3 (Late)</b></p>
<ul >
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdominal_pain" title="Abdominal pain" >Abdominal pain</a> in the upper abdomen</li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nausea" title="Nausea" >Nausea</a> and occasional <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomiting" title="Vomiting" >vomiting</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diarrhea" title="Diarrhea" >Diarrhea</a> or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation" title="Constipation" >constipation</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weight_loss" title="Weight loss" >Weight loss</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding" title="Bleeding" >Bleeding</a> (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vomiting_blood" title="Vomiting blood" class="mw-redirect" >vomiting blood</a> or having <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_in_the_stool" title="Blood in the stool" class="mw-redirect" >blood in the stool</a>) which will appear as black. This can lead to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anemia" title="Anemia" >anemia</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p > </p>
<ul >
<li ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysphagia" title="Dysphagia" >Dysphagia</a>; this feature suggests a tumor in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardia" title="Cardia" >cardia</a> or extension of the gastric tumor in to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esophagus" title="Esophagus" >esophagus</a></li>
</ul>
<p > </p>
<ul >
<li >.</li>
</ul>
<p >Note that these can be symptoms of other problems such as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stomach_virus" title="Stomach virus" class="mw-redirect" >stomach virus</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastric_ulcer" title="Gastric ulcer" class="mw-redirect" >gastric ulcer</a>or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_sprue" title="Tropical sprue" >tropical sprue</a>.</p>