Stomach

What is stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a disease in which cancerous (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the stomach. The stomach is a J-shaped organ found in the upper abdomen where food is broken down (digestion).

Food reaches the stomach through a tube called the esophagus that connects the mouth to the stomach. After passing through the stomach, partially digested food passes into the small intestine and then into the large intestine or colon. Sometimes cancer can be found in the stomach for a long time and grow considerably before it causes symptoms. In the early stages of stomach cancer, the patient may suffer from indigestion and upset stomach, feel inflamed after eating, have mild nausea, loss of appetite, or heartburn. In the more advanced stages of stomach cancer, the patient may have blood in the stool, vomiting, weight loss, or stomach pain. The chance that the patient will get stomach cancer is higher has had a stomach infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, or if he is elderly, if he is male, if he smokes cigarettes or if he frequently eats a diet of dry and salty food. Other factors that increase the chance of getting stomach cancer are a stomach disorder called atrophic gastritis, Menetrier's disease, a blood disorder called pernicious anemia, or an inherited state of growths (polyps) in the large intestine.

If symptoms are present, your doctor usually orders an x-ray of the upper gastrointestinal region (also known as an upper GI series or esophageal transit). For this test, the patient drinks a liquid containing barium, which allows the stomach to be seen more easily on the x-ray.

The doctor may also look inside the stomach with a thin, lighted tube called a gastroscope. This procedure, known as gastroscopy or upper endoscopy, detects most stomach cancers. To perform this test, the gastroscope is inserted through the mouth and directed into the stomach. Your doctor will put a local anesthetic (a medicine that causes loss of sensation for a short time) into your throat or give another medicine to relax you before the test so you don't feel pain. If your doctor sees abnormal tissue, you may need to remove a small piece under a microscope to check for cancer cells. This procedure is known as a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during gastroscopy.

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and treatment selection will depend on the stage of the cancer (whether it is in the stomach or has spread to other parts of the body) and the patient's overall health.

Information about the esophagus, hiatal hernia or GER