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What is Gastric Cancer?
Gastric cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the stomach.
The stomach is a J-shaped organ in the upper abdomen. It is part of the digestive system, which processes nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water) in foods that are eaten and helps pass waste material out of the body. Food moves from the throat to the stomach through a hollow, muscular tube called the esophagus. After leaving the stomach, partly-digested food passes into the small intestine and then into the large intestine.
Stomach Gastric Cancer Picture
The stomach and esophagus are part of the upper digestive system.
The wall of the stomach is made up of 3 layers of tissue: the mucosal (innermost) layer, the muscularis (middle) layer, and the serosal (outermost) layer. Gastric cancer begins in the cells lining the mucosal layer and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.
Stromal tumors of the stomach begin in supporting connective tissue and are treated differently from gastric cancer. Refer to the PDQ summary on Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment for more information.
Age, diet, and stomach disease can affect the risk of developing gastric cancer.
Risk factors include the following:
- Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach.
- Chronic gastritis (inflammation of the stomach).
- Older age.
- Being male.
- A diet high in salted, smoked, or poorly preserved foods and low in fruits and vegetables.
- Pernicious anemia.
- Smoking cigarettes.
- Intestinal metaplasia.
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or gastric polyps.
- A mother, father, sister, or brother who has had stomach cancer.
Possible signs of gastric cancer include indigestion and stomach discomfort or pain.
These and other symptoms may be caused by gastric cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. In the early stages of gastric cancer, the following symptoms may occur:
- Indigestion and stomach discomfort.
- A bloated feeling after eating.
- Mild nausea.
- Loss of appetite.
- Heartburn.
In more advanced stages of gastric cancer, the following symptoms may occur:
- Blood in the stool.
- Vomiting.
- Weight loss for no known reason.
- Stomach pain.
- Jaundice (yellowing of eyes and skin).
- Ascites (build-up of fluid in the abdomen).
- Trouble with swallowing.
A doctor should be consulted if any of these problems occur.
The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:
The stage and extent of the cancer (whether it is in the stomach only or has spread to lymph nodes or other places in the body). The patient's general health.
When gastric cancer is found very early, there is a better chance of recovery. Gastric cancer is often in an advanced stage when it is diagnosed. At later stages, gastric cancer can be treated but rarely can be cured. Taking part in one of the clinical trials being done to improve treatment should be considered. Information about ongoing clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.
National Cancer Institute
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