Stomach Cancer – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach. In the United States, most cases occur at the gastroesophageal junction—where the esophagus connects to the stomach.
Stomach cancer rates have declined by about 1.5% annually over the past decade. The disease typically affects older adults, with the average diagnosis age being 68.
About 60% of cases occur in people over 65, and men face a slightly higher lifetime risk. However, stomach cancer can affect anyone regardless of age or gender.
Risk Factors
Several factors may increase your risk of developing stomach cancer:
- Smoking (doubles your risk)
- Family History of Stomach Cancer
- H. pylori infection
- Chronic stomach inflammation
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Stomach Polyps
- Diet high in salt and smoked foods
- Diet low in fruits and vegetables
- Higher body weight
Development and Symptoms
Stomach cancer typically develops slowly over many years. The process begins when DNA changes in stomach cells cause them to multiply abnormally, eventually forming tumors.
Common symptoms include:
| Symptom | Description |
|---|---|
| Swallowing difficulties | Trouble getting food down |
| Bloating | Feeling full or swollen after eating |
| Early satiety | Feeling full after eating small amounts |
| Digestive issues | Heartburn, indigestion, nausea |
| Pain | Discomfort in the stomach area |
| Weight loss | Unintentional weight loss |
| Vomiting | Bringing up stomach contents |
If you experience these symptoms, consult your doctor. They may first check for more common causes or refer you to specialists like gastroenterologists or oncologists.
Diagnosis
Doctors use several methods to diagnose stomach cancer:
- Upper Endoscopy: A tiny camera passes through the throat to examine the stomach.
- Biopsy: If suspicious areas are found, tissue samples are taken for lab analysis.
- Imaging Tests: CT scans or barium swallow X-rays help visualize the stomach.
To determine how far the cancer has spread (staging), additional tests may include:
- Blood tests
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- CT or PET scans
- Laparoscopic surgery, in some cases
Treatment Options
Treating stomach cancer requires a team approach with doctors from different specialties. The five main treatment options are:
Surgery
Removes cancerous tissue and some surrounding healthy tissue to ensure all cancer cells are eliminated.
Chemotherapy
Uses drugs that travel throughout the body to destroy cancer cells wherever they may be.
Radiation Therapy
Employs high-powered energy beams targeted directly at cancer cells.
Targeted Drug Therapy
Focuses on blocking specific weaknesses found in cancer cells.
Immunotherapy
Helps your immune system identify and attack dangerous cancer cells.
Prognosis
The outlook for stomach cancer patients depends largely on when it’s discovered. Early detection significantly improves outcomes:
- Early-stage Cancer (confined to the stomach) – good chance of cure.
- Advanced Cancer (grown through stomach wall or spread) – more challenging to treat.
Most stomach cancers in the United States are unfortunately discovered at advanced stages, which makes treatment more difficult. However, medical advances continue to improve treatment options and outcomes.
For those diagnosed with stomach cancer, connecting with other cancer survivors can provide valuable emotional support. Learning about your condition helps you make informed decisions about your care.
Signs and Symptoms
Stomach cancer may cause several noticeable signs in your body. These symptoms include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain in the stomach area
- Bloating after meals
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Loss of appetite
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Unintentional weight loss
- Extreme fatigue
- Black-colored stools
Early stomach cancer often doesn’t cause any symptoms. When early signs appear, they might include discomfort and pain in the upper abdomen.
More serious symptoms typically develop as the cancer advances. In later stages, you might notice severe tiredness, weight loss without trying, vomiting with blood, and black stools.
When stomach cancer spreads to other body parts (metastatic stomach cancer), it causes different symptoms depending on the affected area. For example:
| Location | Possible Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Lymph nodes | Lumps you can feel through the skin |
| Liver | Yellowing of skin and eyes (jaundice) |
| Abdominal cavity | Fluid buildup causing a swollen belly |
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
If you notice any concerning symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Remember that many other health conditions can cause similar symptoms to stomach cancer.
Your healthcare provider will likely test for these other conditions before checking for stomach cancer.
What Causes Stomach Cancer
Stomach cancer develops when cells in the stomach lining change and grow abnormally. Scientists don’t fully understand why this happens. The disease often begins with damage to the inner stomach lining.
Common factors that may harm this lining include stomach infections, ongoing acid reflux, and eating many salty foods. Not everyone with these risk factors gets stomach cancer, however.
The onset of the disease occurs when the cells in the stomach experience alterations in their DNA. These changes make cells multiply too quickly and live longer than they should.
The additional cells aggregate to create masses known as tumors. As cancer cells grow, they can push deeper into the stomach wall. They may also break away and travel to other body parts, a process called metastasis.
Different Stomach Cancer Types
Stomach cancers vary based on which cells first become cancerous:
Adenocarcinoma
- Begins in mucus-producing cells
- Makes up about 90–95% of all stomach cancers
- Most common type by far
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Start in special nerve cells in the stomach wall
- Form a type of soft tissue cancer
- Less common than adenocarcinoma
Carcinoid Tumors
- Develop from neuroendocrine cells
- These cells have both nerve and hormone-making functions
- Represent a small percentage of stomach cancers
- Classified as neuroendocrine tumors
Lymphoma
- Cancer that begins in immune system cells
- Can sometimes start in the stomach
- Often appears when the body sends immune cells to fight stomach infections
- Most stomach lymphomas are non-Hodgkin lymphomas
Risk Factors
Several factors can increase your chance of developing stomach cancer:
Health Conditions
- GERD (stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus)
- Gastritis (stomach inflammation)
- Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach
- Stomach polyps (noncancerous growths)
Lifestyle Factors
- Diet high in salty and smoked foods
- Not eating enough fruits and vegetables
- Smoking
Genetic Factors
- Family history of stomach cancer
- Inherited genetic conditions, including:
- Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer
- Lynch syndrome
- Juvenile polyposis syndrome
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- Familial adenomatous polyposis
Having one or more risk factors doesn’t mean you will get stomach cancer. Many people with risk factors never develop it, while others with no known risk factors do.
Reducing Your Risk
Getting stomach cancer is less likely if you follow these steps:
Eat fruits and vegetables daily. Choose different colors of fruits and vegetables for the best health benefits.
Cut back on salty and smoked foods. These can harm your stomach lining over time.
Quit smoking. Smoking raises your chance of stomach cancer and other cancers. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor.
Know your family history. Tell your doctor if relatives have had stomach cancer. You might need special tests to check for early signs.
