Stomach Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. In the United States, stomach cancer occurs less often. It accounts for 1.5% of new cancers diagnosed each year. Yet, over 26,000 new cases of stomach cancer are discovered annually. The disease claims the lives of more than 11,000 Americans each year.

Please continue reading to learn more about stomach cancer. We will talk about what increases your risk of developing stomach cancer, causes, symptoms, and gastric cancer treatment.

How do you get stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer occurs when healthy cells become cancerous and start growing out of control, forming a tumor or mass. The cancer cells usually start growing in the inner lining of the stomach. As the cancer grows, the cancer cells in the stomach lining penetrate deeper into the healthy tissue of the stomach wall. In people with advanced stages of stomach cancer, cancerous cells can invade nearby lymph nodes and organs like the liver and pancreas.

What is the main cause of stomach cancer?

Like all cancers, a mutation (alteration or defect) in specific genes causes stomach cancer. This makes the stomach lining cells grow rapidly and out of control, eventually forming a mass or tumor.

Who is at risk of developing stomach cancer?

There are certain modifiable risk factors of stomach cancer (things you can change). For example, the risk of stomach cancer is higher in people who smoke and/or are obese. Other risk factors include eating a diet high in salt, red meats, processed meats, and smoked foods or not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables.

Risk factors you cannot control include a family history of gastric cancer. If someone in your family has had stomach cancer, you have an increased risk of developing this type of tumor. In addition, people with a stomach infection caused by a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori infection) are also at higher risk of stomach cancer.

Individuals with a genetic condition called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) have more than 100 growths called polyps. The polyps usually form in the large intestine and small intestine. If left untreated, they can become cancerous. People with FAP can develop polyps in other organs, including the stomach. Indeed, 90% of people with familial adenomatous polyposis have stomach polyps. Stomach cancer can occasionally develop from these polyps (in less than 2% of cases).

How do you feel when you have stomach cancer?

Many of the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer are gastrointestinal. They may include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, difficulty swallowing, loss of appetite, weight loss, tiredness, bloating, and vomiting blood (in advanced stage stomach cancer).

Keep in mind that stomach cancer symptoms are not specific. Meaning they can be caused by some other medical condition such as an infection or stomach ulcer. If you have any symptoms related to your digestive system, it is important to see a healthcare provider. They can provide medical advice about the appropriate treatment options based on your medical history.

What are the 7 warning signs of stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer frequently does not cause any symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. As a result, the tumor is not found until it has grown relatively large or spread to other organs beyond the stomach. In the United States, screening for the purpose of diagnosing stomach cancer is not routinely performed.

You should be vigilant for the early symptoms of stomach cancer. Seeking timely medical attention can help ensure the condition is diagnosed before stomach cancer spreads. Warning signs of stomach cancer may include:

Unexplained weight loss (losing weight without trying)
Early satiety (feeling full quickly after eating a small meal)
Vague discomfort in the belly or abdominal pain
Swelling in the abdomen due to fluid build-up
Blood in the stool
Tiredness or weakness (due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells)
Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice) if the stomach cancer has spread to the liver

Again, most of these symptoms can be caused by problems other than stomach cancer. However, if you have these signs and symptoms, please get checked out by a doctor, especially if the symptoms don’t go away in a few days or get worse.

How do doctors diagnose stomach cancer?

Doctors can do several tests to diagnose stomach cancer, including imaging studies like CT scan, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET). A substance called barium is often used to identify problems in the stomach. During a Barium Swallow test, you swallow the barium liquid, which flows through the esophagus (food pipe) into the stomach. X-rays are then taken to look for abnormalities.

Doctors can also perform an upper endoscopy by inserting a narrow, flexible, and thin tube with a camera into the stomach. They can take a biopsy (sample) during the endoscopy procedure and examine it in the laboratory for cancerous cells.

An endoscopic ultrasound test may be done if you have stomach cancer diagnosed. The test uses an ultrasound probe and helps doctors stage the tumor, i.e., see how much of the stomach is affected by the cancer.

Gastric Cancer Treatment

There are several approaches to treating stomach cancer. The treatment depends on the stage of the tumor. Early-stage stomach cancer can be removed during an upper endoscopy.

If the tumor has invaded beyond the superficial layers of the stomach wall, treatment options may include stomach surgery. The surgeon can remove the stomach and connect the esophagus (food pipe) to the small intestine.

Other treatments include radiation therapy and chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells. Targeted therapy is also available to treat stomach cancer. A combination of treatments for stomach cancer is often used. Your doctors will develop a customized treatment plan for you based on how much the stomach cancer has spread.

What is the stomach cancer survival rate?

The survival rate from stomach cancer depends on the stage of the disease. Based on estimates by the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Institute, the 5-year survival rate for stomach cancer discovered and treated in the early stages is 70%. The outlook for advanced stomach cancer is worse, with a 5-year survival rate of 32% of people with localized spread and 6% for those with distant spread of cancer cells. The overall 5-year survival rate for all stages of stomach cancer cases is 32%. This means people with stomach cancer are, on average, 32% as likely to be alive after 5 years as people who don’t have this disease.

What can I do to prevent stomach cancer?

Fortunately, the prevalence of stomach cancers has been declining in the United States over the last few decades. This is because there is greater awareness about healthy eating. Also, the widespread use of refrigeration has resulted in increased access to fresh foods without preservatives.

To reduce your risk of stomach cancer, you should eat a healthy diet low in salt, red meats, and processed meats. Also, make sure you eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, it is a good idea to avoid smoked foods (foods cooked at high temperatures or over open flames). Research shows that in places where people eat many such foods, the number of stomach cancer cases is twice as high. Some studies also suggest a correlation between gastric cancer and spicy foods.

You should also get regular exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Last but not least, avoid smoking because it can increase your risk of stomach cancer and many other cancers.

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