Stomach cancer

What is stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer is a condition of abnormal cell growth in your stomach.

The stomach is part of the body’s digestive system and is located in your upper abdomen.

The 2 main types of stomach cancer are:

• gastric adenocarcinoma (gastric cancer) — the most common type
• gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)

Stomach cancer is a relatively common cancer in Australia. It is rarely diagnosed in people aged under 60 years of age and affects more males than females.

What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?

Some people have stomach cancer without having any symptoms at all. Some people get symptoms such as:

• heartburn or abdominal pain
• nausea and/or vomiting
• tiredness
• unexplained weight loss
• swelling of the abdomen

Some have blood in their vomit or black stools from bleeding in their stomach.

What causes stomach cancer?

The causes of stomach cancer are not known but it is more common in people who:

• are over 60 years of age
• smoke
• are infected with the bacteria helicobacter pylori
• eat a lot of smoked, pickled and salted foods and do not eat much fresh fruit and vegetables
• have chronic stomach problems such as polyps or gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
• have a family history of stomach cancer

How is stomach cancer diagnosed?

Your doctor will talk to you and examine you. You might be referred for tests to understand your symptoms and reach a diagnosis.

The tests might include:

• endoscopy, where a thin tube with a camera on the end is passed through your throat and oesophagus to look at the digestive tract
• blood tests
• stool sample
• endoscopic ultrasound of the inside of your stomach and other parts
• imaging scans of your stomach and nearby organs, such as x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• taking a sample of tissue (biopsy) from your stomach wall

How will my stomach cancer be treated?

Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the stage of your disease, the severity of symptoms and your overall health. The options include:

• surgery to remove part or all of your stomach (partial or total gastrectomy)
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells
• targeted therapy, which attacks specific features of cancer cells
• immunotherapy, which helps your immune system fight the cancer
• treatment can be more effective if the cancer is found in its early stages, though early stomach cancer may not cause symptoms

Can stomach cancer be prevented?

You can reduce your risk by:

• not smoking or quitting smoking
• eating a diet high in fresh vegetables and fruit and low in smoked, pickled, and salted foods
• checking for and treating helicobacter pylori infection

I have been diagnosed with stomach cancer. What can I do?

If you have been recently diagnosed with stomach cancer, you may feel overwhelmed, scared, anxious and upset. These are all normal feelings. Seek support from family and friends; and ask your doctor to refer you to local services and relevant support groups.