Stomach Cancer:
What is stomach cancer?
The body is made up of many types of cells. Typically, cells grow and divide, and then die. Once in a while, cells will mutate and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous (also referred to as "malignant"), they can invade and kill your body's healthy tissues. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body. Non-cancerous tumors, referred to as "benign" do not spread to other parts of the body. Stomach cancer (often referred to as “gastric cancer”) is the growth of cancer cells within the lining and wall of the stomach.
What causes stomach cancer?
No one knows the exact causes of stomach cancer. Physicians often cannot explain why one person develops this disease and another may not; however, research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop stomach cancer. Some risk factors that may cause an increased chance in the development of cancerous cells include:
- Age: Most people with this disease are 72 or older.
- Sex: Men are more likely than women to develop stomach cancer.
- Race: Stomach cancer is more common in Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic, and African Americans than in non-Hispanic white Americans.
- Family history: A rare type of stomach cancer runs in some families. Most people who have known risk factors do not develop stomach cancer. For example, many people have H. pylori in their stomach but never develop cancer. On the other hand, people who do develop the disease sometimes have no known risk factors.
- Diet: Research now suggests that people who eat a diet high in foods that are smoked, salted, or pickled may be at increased risk for stomach cancer. On the other hand, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may protect against stomach cancer.
- Helicobacter pylori infection: H. pylori is a type of bacteria that commonly lives in the stomach. H. pylori infection increases the risk of stomach inflammation and stomach ulcers. It also increases the risk of stomach cancer, but only a small number of infected people develop stomach cancer.
- Smoking: Statistically, people who smoke are more likely to develop stomach cancer than people who do not smoke.
- Certain health problems: Conditions that cause inflammation or other problems in the stomach may increase the risk of stomach cancer include:
- Stomachsurgery
- Chronic gastritis (long-term inflammation of the stomach lining)
- Pernicious anemia (a blood disease that affects the stomach)
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?
Oftentimes, cancerous cells will be present in the stomach for a long time before they are detected. In very early stages, stomach cancer may cause the following symptoms:
- Indigestion, stomach discomfort or heartburn
- Nausea or loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- When the cancer is larger, it can cause the following symptoms:
- Blood in the stool
- A bloated feeling after eating
- Vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
- Stomach pain
Treatment options:
Treatment options for stomach cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments. The choice of treatment depends on whether the cancer is just in the stomach or if it has spread to other parts of the body. A person’s age and overall health will also affect the choice of treatment.
Additional patient resources:
- Functions of the stomach
- National Cancer Institute
- Mayo Clinic
- American Cancer Society - What is Stomach Cancer?
- More patient resources
| University of Missouri Health Care | This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. |
