Cancer of the Stomach

Gastric carcinoma is a frequent form of cancer causing about 35-40% of all deaths from malignant tumours.

This disease is more common in men than in women. The highest incidence is noted at ages of 50 to 60. Gastric carcinoma is known to have a more malignant course in young persons than in old age. The duration of gastric cancer from the appearance of its first manifestations to death is not longer than 1-2 years.

The aetiology of cancer is unknown. But such pathologic conditions as benign tumours, ulcer of the stomach, gastritis and stomach polyps have been determined to contribute considerably to its development.

According to certain data the use of too hot or too cold food, smoking and alcohol are considered to be responsible for the development of stomach carcinoma.

In the past few years a virus theory of cancer has been suggested. Though this theory is supported by many it has not yet been proved. For a long time many scientists have been discussing the importance of hereditary factors in the development of cancer. The hereditary theory has not yet been confirmed either.

The clinical manifestations of gastric carcinoma vary with the stage of its development, location and spread through the lymphatic nodes and other inner organs. The main symptoms of gastric carcinoma are known to be disturbance in gastric digestion, epigastric pains, loss of weight and sometimes vomiting of blood. A prolonged, usually external, profuse bleeding results in severe anaemia. The appetite is usually reduced.

IV. Class Assignments

1. Supply the words of the same root:

extensive, exist, node, evidence, various, characterize, contribution, bleed, support, response, impulsive, ulcerous, associate, preventive

2. Supply the most characteristic words to be used with the following nouns as attributes:

tumour, bleeding, node, vomiting, ulcer, manifestation, onset, fever, failure

3. Choose the appropriate word. Translate the sentences:

1) (Malignant, benign) tumours are known to cause numerous metastases (involving, improving) various internal organs.

2) In the presence of anaemia the red blood cell count is considerably (increased, reduced).

3) Gastric carcinoma appears to be more (common, rare) in the male than in the female.

4. Define Infinitive functions. Translate the sentences:

1) No doubt chronic gastritis is one of the diseases to be responsible for the development of gastric carcinoma.

2) Academician A. N. Bakulev was the first surgeon in the Soviet Union to perform the operation on the heart.

3) To reveal the early symptoms of malignant tumours is one of the measures contributing to their effective treatment.

4) In the patients with ulcer pain is known to have cyclic character with periodic remissions.

5. Use Complex Subject instead of the subordinate clause:

1) It was reported that the patient had been suffering from the digestion disturbances for several years.

2) It seems that the pathologic changes in the gastric mucous membrane due to chronic gastritis are responsible for the development of malignant tumours of the stomach.

3) It was stated that the patient had developed anaemia after profuse bleeding caused by perforating ulcer.

6. Read and translate the following words:

epigastrium barium

peritonitis degeneration

metastasis

7. 1) Read the text. 2) Entitle it. 3) Characterize the pain in this disease. 4) Why is the prevention of this disease so important?

Text

In gastric carcinoma pain is felt in the epigastrium and the patient often complains of the feeling of pressure in the stomach area. Pain may become severe when the tumour involves the pancreas, in peritonitis, and metastases into the bones.

The gastric juice is known to contain much mucus, leucocytes and tumour cells. In the majority of cases gastric secretion proves to be considerably reduced.

The X-ray examination is particularly important for the diagnosis of gastric carcinoma. It reveals the so-called filling defect, when some areas of the stomach remain empty after barium meal has been taken.

Preventive measures are carried out extensively to reveal the early signs of gastric cancer as well as an adequate therapy of ulcers and chronic gastritis which may result in malignant degeneration.

8. Finish the following sentences using the necessary words from Assignment 7:

1) The change of tissue from one form to another is … .

2) The inflammation of the internal serous coat of the abdominal cavity is … .

3) The upper portion of the abdomen is … .

4) Secondary cancerous lesions due to the spread of the disease in to the other organs and systems of the body are … .

5) A special food given to the patient before the X-ray examination of the stomach or intestine is … .

9. Instead of the words and phrases in bold type use those from the texts:

1) A continuous haemorrhage causes the decrease in the red blood cell count.

2) 35 – 40% of all persons who die from cancer are known to have gastric carcinoma.

3) When the patient’s stomach was X-rayed the doctor saw that some of its areas did not contain any barium.

4) Too hot or too cold food is considered to contribute to the development of gastric cancer.

V. Самостоятельная работа. (Home Assignment)

1. Выразите следующие понятия одним словом:

1) the decrease of the red blood cell count;

2) a physician who treats the heart disease;

3) the causes that produce the development of a certain disease;

4) the mechanism of the development of a disease;

5) the inflammation of the internal serous coat of the abdominal cavity;

6) artificial cooling of the body;

7) the state of the body when a person is neither well nor ill;

8) irregular contractions of atria and ventricles;

9) an increase of the white blood cell count

2. Выберите правильный ответ на вопрос в соответствии с содержанием текста “Cancer of the Stomach”:

1) What appetite does the patient suffering from gastric carcinoma?

(a) It is increased. (b) It is reduced.

2) What do the clinical manifestations of gastric carcinoma vary with?

(a) They vary with the stage of the development of the disease. (b) They vary with the age and sex of the patient.

3) What age is the highest incidence of gastric carcinoma observed at?

(a) It is observed at the age from twenty to thirty. (b) It is observed at the age from fifty to sixty.

3. Замените придаточное предложение причастным оборотом (письменно). Переведите полученные предложения:

1) After the patient had suffered profuse external bleeding he developed severe anaemia.

2) While the surgeon was performing the operation he revealed the ulcer on the anterior wall of the stomach.

3) The dullness which was revealed on percussion was associated with the pathologic changes in the left lung.

4. Переведите текст “Intestinal Tumours”. Передайте его содержание:

Intestinal Tumours

Many forms of tumours are known to occur in the intestines, but we shall limit our attention to the commonest, which is cancer. It generally leads to chronic intestinal obstruction and its accompanying symptoms. In addition there are usual symptoms of cancer invasion – loss of weight and strength, progressive anaemia and pain of varying degree depending of the part affected. Any portion of the intestines is likely to be affected by carcinoma, but the usual areas are the upper part of the colon, the sigmoid and the rectum. In the latter situation the obstruction may be felt on rectal examination. In cancer of the colon and sigmoid a tumour is usually well palpable, the esophagus above the tumour is often thickened and spastic and peristaltic waves may be seen passing in the direction of the obstruction.

5. Выучите следующие слова и переведите предложения, в которых они употреблены:

retention (n) – задержка

The retention of urine is one of the clinical manifestations of a kidney disease.

stool (n) – стул, испражнения

The laboratory analysis of the stool failed to reveal any blood.

tenderness (n) – болезненность

The patient complained of a moderate tenderness ob palpation.

remove (v) – удалять, устранять

The surgeon removed the tumour which had involved the stomach.

6. Переведите, используя или сложное подлежащее или сложное дополнение (письменно):

1) Известно, что прободная язва двенадцатиперстной кишки часто сопровождается обильным кровотечением.

2) Хирург заметил, что при пальпации болезненность в надчревной области распространяется вниз.

3) Считается, что задержка мочи является одним из клинических проявлений болезни почек.

4) Оказывается, что перемежающаяся лихорадка отмечается в большинстве случаев туберкулеза.

5) Студенты наблюдали, как отоларинголог удаляет инородное тело из горла.

VI. Переведите текст “Surgery” со словарем.