The Effects of Initial Symptoms on the Prognosis in Patients with Stomach Cancer

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of\udinitial symptoms on the prognosis in patients with stomach cancer.\udMethods: The study was carried out first retrospectively reviewing\udthe records of patients with stomach cancer treated and followed\udup in Hamidiye Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital Medical\udOncology Clinic. Patients with stomach cancer admitted to our clinic\udfrom 2005 to 2014, followed up routinely, and with known final\udstatuses were included in the present study. Initial symptoms of\udthe patients were recorded, and the main symptom was identified\udin patients with multiple symptoms. Furthermore, demographic,\udclinical and pathological features of the patients were recorded,\udand survival analyses were performed based on the symptoms.\udResults: One hundred twenty nine stomach cancer cases were\udevaluated in the study. The median age was found to be 64 years.\ud69% of patients (n=89) were male and 31% (n=40) were female.\udThe median survival was found to be 24.43 months (19.66-29.20).\udThe initial complaint in 47% of patients (n=57) was dyspeptic\udproblems, and in 39% (n=37) it was detected to be weight lose.\udWhile median survival was 7.57 months in patients complaining\udof weight loss, it was 26.19 months and 14 months in patients\udsuffering from vomiting and bleeding, and in those with dyspepsia,\udrespectively.\udConclusion: Initial symptoms are directly correlated with survival\udin patients with stomach cancer. In our study, weight loss was the\udmost significant prognostic symptom. If a patient complains of\udweight loss, the symptom should be taken into due consideration\udand prompt diagnostic interventions should be performed. (The\udMedical Bulletin of Haseki 2015; 53: 241-5