How long can you live with stomach cancer untreated

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Cancer that primarily affects the stomach, commonly known as gastric cancer, is a very serious form of the disease and is usually fatal. It begins in the gastric mucosa and if the cancer is not treated early, the disease can spread to other tissues of the body.

It is important that patients and their families are aware of the consequences of untreated stomach cancer.

This article discusses the likely survival period of a person suffering from stomach cancer without treatment, aspects of survival, and the importance of timely treatment.

What is Stomach Cancer?

The emergence of cancer cells in the tissues of the stomach, particularly in the inner lining of the stomach, is known as stomach cancer.

The most common type is adenocarcinoma, which grows in the inner lining of the stomach i.e. mucosa.

Some of these are lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors or GIST, neuroendocrine tumors and the rest are due to adenocarcinoma which is the most prominent type of cancer affecting the stomach.

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer in most cases develops quietly through different stages and symptoms that manifest could be indicative of the cancer in its later stages. Common symptoms include:

• Persistent stomach pain or discomfort
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Unexplained weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Blood in the stool or vomit
• Fatigue
• feeling satisfied after consuming modest amounts of food

These symptoms often range from minor to moderate, mild gastrointestinal problems and hence, many people do not seek medical help at the appropriate time.

Symptoms often do not develop until the cancer is in the advanced stages, causing treatment to be delayed.

The Progression of Untreated Stomach Cancer

In any case, the sort and stage of the disease, together with the patient's general condition, can all influence how the cancer develops. Stomach cancer typically advances via the following 

1. Stage 0 - (Carcinoma in Situ) - It is located within the inner wall of the stomach with no signs of spreading to other layers or other parts of the body G3. If not treated it may advance to other more serious forms.
2. Stage I - Tumor has involved the mucosa of the stomach and cancer may have also extended to nearby lymph nodes. If diagnosed in its early stages, chances of survival are fairly good but otherwise, this cancer will progress and metastasize.
3. Stage II - The malignancy has likely migrated to further lymph nodes as well as the stomach's deeper regions. At this stage the disease itself is stomach cancer and it has not been treated and has therefore grown to other organs in the vicinity.
4. Stage III - This has resulted from the invasion of the cancer on the immediate structures around it and other parts of the body that contain lymph nodes. Symptoms are more serious, and in case of neglected condition, the disease becomes fatal.
5. Stage IV - Thus, the cancer has spread or ‘metastasized’ to other organs including the liver, lungs or bones. Stage IV untreated stomach cancer most of the time will be fatal within a few months to a year.

Survival Rates and Life Expectancy Without Treatment

The disease's stage upon diagnosis determines the current survival rates for stomach cancer. If left unattended the life span is reduced greatly, and even more so as the cancer reaches the advanced classes.

• Early-Stage Stomach Cancer - In the case of stomach cancer diagnosed at stage 0 or I but untreated the survival time could be in terms of years but the tendency to grow to the next stages is always present. The untreated patients in these early symptoms may survive for 1 to 2 years depending on the rest of the body’s health conditions. 
• Mid-Stage Stomach Cancer - For Stage II and III patients time to live without treatment drops dramatically. It is estimated that the median survival rate of mid-stage stomach cancer patient without treatment is usually below one year, this may vary between 6-12 months. 
• Advanced-Stage Stomach Cancer - This is evidenced by the fact that in stage IV the cancer has spread to other organs and the prognosis without extended treatment is very poor. The median survival rate for people with the untreated stage IV stomach cancer is normally less than six months, and in many cases the duration could be a few months.

Factors That Influence Survival Without Treatment

Several factors can influence how long someone can live with untreated stomach cancer: 

1. Age and General Health - Younger and healthier people have higher chances of living a few months more with the disease unchecked because their immune systems will take longer to be overwhelmed by cancer. 
2. Cancer’s Stage and Spread - The higher the stage of cancer, the thoughts are often more aggressive and progresses faster limiting the amount of alive time a patient has. 
3. Cancer’s Type and Aggressiveness - Some of the stomach cancer progress more slowly than the others that may afford the patient with more time to live before the disease kills him/her even without any treatment being administered. 
4. Location of the Cancer - In case the cancer is situated in a segment of the stomach that is involved in the digestion or that absorbs nutrients, therefore, the symptoms will deteriorate faster, lowering the length of one’s survival. 
5. Presence of Metastasis - When stomach cancer has metastasized to other organs, especially such important organs as the liver or lungs, life expectancy without treatment will drop significantly.

The Importance of Early Detection and Treatment

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When this type of cancer is discovered early the best course of action can be taken and the patient stands a better chance of survival. And stomach cancer treatments may involve operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, molecular assigned therapy, and immunotherapy.

What treatment is needed most often depends on the extent of cancer and general state of health of the patient.

• Surgery - In many cases, surgery is the main line of treatment for this disorder especially if the disease is diagnosed early. Localized gastric cancer resection may result in the cure since the affected part is surgically removed. 
• Chemotherapy and Radiation - Such treatments are applied to reduce the size of a tumor prior to surgery or to eliminate residual cancer cells after surgery. In more chronic stages they may relieve the symptoms and possibly increase lifespan. 
• Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy - These newer treatments are targeted therapies, which target a specific process in cancer cells and therefore offer a margin of improvement especially with advanced stages of cancer. 

In fact as far as stomach cancer is concerned, treatment can always be sought even in the advanced stage to alleviate the cancer affected symptoms, improve the quality of life and hopefully increase survival rate.

Patients with advanced cancer also need to get symptom management, sometimes known as palliative care or terminal care.

The Risks of Leaving Stomach Cancer Untreated

The decision to leave stomach cancer untreated can have serious consequences. As the cancer grows, it can cause severe pain, nutritional deficiencies, and a variety of other complications.

Quality of life also deteriorates as the disease progresses, leading to a variety of complications. In addition, untreated stomach cancer often results in a shorter life span and a painful death as the cancer spreads to other organs.

Along with headaches, there is an increased risk of bleeding, a hole in the stomach, or a blockage in the digestive tract, all of which can be life-threatening.

Conclusion

Stomach cancer is a serious infection that requires medical attention. While the survival time for untreated stomach cancer depends on many factors, the consequences can be dire when treatment is delayed.

Early detection and treatment are crucial for survival and improved quality of life. If you or a loved one is struggling with stomach cancer treatment, it is important to consult a physician and explore treatment options.

Even in cases where the cancer is advanced, treatments can help control symptoms, slow the progression of the disorder, and spend more time with loved ones. Remember, stomach cancer is not a condition to be taken lightly.

The sooner it is treated, the better your chances of living a long and healthy life.