At the early stage, most of the cases are characterized by excessive pathogenic factors, usually manifested as incoordination between the liver and the stomach, blockage of toxic stasis and stagnation of phlegm and dampness. Chronic cases are marked by deficient healthy qi, usually manifested as stomach heat damaging yin, yang deficiency of the spleen and deficiency of qi and blood.

Essentials for Diagnosis
(1) Over 30 years old patients suffering from gastric pain or flatulence for more than 1 year, recently with aggravation of the pain, changes of rhythm and slight tender in the gastric area, should be aware of the possibility of gastric carcinoma.

(2) The patient has no history of diagnosed gastric diseases, but suffers from emaciation with unknown cause, tarry stools and also anorexia, lassitude, reduced
hematochrome, or frequent bleeding and stubborn pain.

(3) The patient has the history of gastric pain, transferring focus to the lung and liver, swelling of the supraclavicular lymph nodes or mass felt in the front wall of the rectum.

(4) Laboratory examination shows persistent positive occult blood in stools, deficiency or absence of gastric acid in gastric juice analysis, absence of free acid on empty stomach; biochemical examination indicates increased AFP content in the gastric juice, positive gastric carcinoma antigen, significant difference of akaline phosphatase and acid protease in biopsy sample of gastric membrane comparing with normal tissues and increase of CEA, CA19 - 9, CA242 in the blood.

(5) Barium meal X-ray examination indicates the ulcer larger than 2.5 cm with irregular shape of the niche, erect image in negative image, meniscus sign, irregular rough or vanishing membrane folds around the ulcer, nearby stomach wall rigid and disappearance of the movement. The size and location of the tumor or the surface of the tumor or ulcer, bleeding by touching can be observed under endoscope. To make clear diagnosis, biopsy or smear examination is recommended. The ultrasonic B and CT examination indicate the growth of the cancer inside and outside of the stomach cavity and the transference to the liver, pancreas, kidney, ovary or celiac lymph nodes.

In TCM, a disease or a symptom might be caused by one pathogenic factor, even two or three pathogenic factors. When diagnosing a disease or a symptom, TCM doctors must follow the principle of "Syndrome Dfferentiation", and then "Suit the Remedy to the Case". In order to gain a more definite and valuable diagnosis, it's important and necessary for the doctor to learn the detailed health information of the patient, including his/her disease duration, age, sex, height, weight, family history, urine, stool, diet, sleep, sweat, energy, mood (emotion), as well as the tongue conditions and the palm conditions, etc. If you would want our expert to create a TCM diagnosis, you're welcome to contact us.