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About Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.
Expertise
Questions concerning Cancer, Oncology, radiation Therapy, Tumours, Chemotherapy, Cytotoxic Drugs, Hormonal Therapy, Radiation Protection.

Experience
I'm a Doctor of Medicine. Licensed/certified physician and surgeon and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation therapy in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and the European Union. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps. Now in private practice in Stockholm, Sweden. I also answer questions in these other categories: General History, Military History, Brain Tumors, Breast Cancer, Colon Cancer

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Medical Specialists > Oncology (General Cancer) > Stomach and intestinal symptoms

Oncology (General Cancer) - Stomach and intestinal symptoms

Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 10/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I am a 50 year old male who has suffered in the past from ulcers which were treated (I believed ) successfully.
For the last few weeks I have been having pain in the upper left and upper right sides of my abdomen. This sometimes moves to the lower right side.
I did have a bout of diarrhea for a couple of weeks which has since cleared.
I also have lots of rumbling and gas pains in my abdomen.
My weight is fine and I have no nausea.
My Doctor started me on Ranitidine bearing in mind my past history of ulcers.
My concern is that I may have stomach cancer, but he thinks this unlikely.

Your thoughts?

ANSWER: Well it most probably is not very likely. But the only way to be SURE is that a gastroscopy of your esophagus and your stomach is done. So if you want to be sure you have to insist on that investigation.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the very prompt reply.
I take on board your point about being 'sure', however I have a lot of time for my Doctor and in general trsut his opinion.
In this case I was merely looking for .....say a percentage risk of Stomach cancer in your opinion.
I apperciate you may not be willing to give me this, but if you do I would be most grateful.
Thanks again for the swift answer.

Answer
Well that is easier said than done. It depends on in which country you live, where in that country you live, your age, your ethnic group, your social-economic group, your diet, family history etc. For example Japanese people - in Japan - have a much higher risk of stomach cancer than Americans & Europeans. But if people from Japan move to America they will in a few generations - also if they only breed with other Japanese - come to the same lower risk as other Americans. Generally the risk of stomach cancer in the Western World is going down (and the risk of colon cancer is going up). It seems to have to do with diet changes. Here in my native Sweden the risk of stomach cancer is higher in the north of the country and among more poor people. It is lowest in the south and among the well to do. The risk of colon cancer is the opposite more or less. So this is quite complicated. I know far too little of you to even guess anything here. Besides percentages make sense when we are discussing large numbers of people not so much when we are discussing a single case like you. The chance of winning a lottery is low, but you either win or you do not.

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