Stomach cancer is a disease in which cancer cells grow in the stomach. Stomach cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and spread to other organs through tumor growth, the bloodstream, or the lymphatic system.
There are five layers of tissue in the stomach. The innermost layer is called the mucosa and is where approximately 90% to 95% of stomach cancer begins. This type of tumor is called an adenocarcinoma.
Less common stomach cancers include lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system sometimes found in the stomach wall; gastric stomal tumors, which are tumors of the stomach wall; and carcinoid tumors, which are tumors of the hormone-producing cells of the stomach.
It is believed that stomach cancer takes several years to develop, and that many precancerous changes that rarely cause symptoms occur before stomach cancer develops. This is why most cases of stomach cancer are undetected until the later stages of the disease.
The exact cause of stomach cancer is not known. There are, however, several well-known risk factors that contribute to the development of stomach cancer.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The risk factors for stomach cancer include:
There are often no symptoms with stomach cancer, but when they occur, they may include:
These symptoms may also be caused by other, less serious health conditions. A person experiencing these symptoms should see their doctor to determine the cause of the problem.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam.
Diagnostic tests may include:
Stomach cancer is most often detected in the later stages. Stomach cancer is treated based on the location, size, stage, and extent of disease. Treatment options for stomach cancer include:
Surgery is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. The type of surgery depends on the stage of the disease and can vary from removing the tumor and part of the stomach, to removing the entire stomach.
There are three types of stomach surgery that may be performed:
This is the use of high-energy rays to kill or shrink cancer cells. Radiation therapy may be used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that could not be seen or removed during surgery.
A recent study showed that patients with high-risk stomach cancer (positive lymph nodes or spread through the stomach wall by tumor) are best served by surgery followed by both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This combined modality approach results in best survival and least likelihood of cancer returning.
The rate of stomach cancer has declined over the past 60 years due in large part to dietary factors. The change from salting and pickling foods to refrigerating foods for preservation is thought to have played a large role in this decrease.
Prevention includes:
RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute
http://www.nci.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
BC Cancer Agency
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/default.htm
Cancer Care Ontario
http://www.cancercare.on.ca/
References:
Gastric cancer prevention. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/prevention/gastric/healthprofessional . Accessed May 7, 2003.
How is stomach cancer diagnosed? American Cancer Society website. Available at: http://www.cancer.org . Accessed May 21, 2003.
What you need to know about stomach cancer. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.nci.nih.gov . Accessed May 14, 2003.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Daus Mahnke, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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