Stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
The stomach is a stretchy, muscular bag that stores food and helps break it down during digestion. It sits in the upper left side of the belly area (abdomen).
Cancer can develop in the stomach. This is called stomach cancer, or sometimes gastric cancer. Stomach cancer may spread to other parts of the body, and it can spread to the lymph nodes close to the stomach.
The risk of developing stomach cancer goes up as you get older. More than half of people (50%) diagnosed with stomach cancer are aged 75 or older.
Types of stomach cancer
Knowing which type of stomach cancer you have helps your cancer doctor plan your treatment.
This information is about adenocarcinoma, which is the most common type of stomach cancer. More than 9 in 10 stomach cancers (95%) are adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma starts in the glandular cells of the stomach lining.
Less common cancers that can start in the stomach include:
- soft tissue sarcomas, including gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs)
- lymphomas, such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas
- neuroendocrine tumours (also known as NETs)
The tests and treatments for these types of stomach cancer are different from the ones described in this information.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more information on what cancer is.
Common Symptoms
⚠️ This symptom list is for educational purposes. Having these symptoms does not mean you have this condition. See a doctor for proper diagnosis.
Medicines Commonly Used
⚠️ These medicines are commonly used for confirmed diagnoses of this condition. This is NOT a recommendation or prescription. Treatment must be determined by your doctor.
No medicines have been linked to this condition yet.
Causes
What causes stomach cancer?
Certain things can increase the chance of developing stomach cancer. These are called risk factors.
Having a risk factor doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get stomach cancer. Or if you don’t have any risk factors, you may still be diagnosed with stomach cancer.
It’s not known why only some people who have risk factors develop stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer isn’t infectious and can’t be passed from one person to another.
Macmillan Cancer Support have more information about the causes and risk factors of stomach cancer.
Diagnosis
You will usually start by seeing your GP or family doctor. They will ask about your symptoms and examine you.
You may have blood tests to check your general health. If your doctor is not sure what the problem is, or thinks you may have cancer, they will refer you to a hospital for a test called an endoscopy.
If your doctor thinks you may have cancer, they will make an urgent referral for an appointment. This means your doctor is asking for a specialist appointment for you within 2 weeks, or as soon as the clinic can arrange it.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more advice if you have just been diagnosed with cancer.
Tests for stomach cancer
The main test used to diagnose stomach cancer is an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a test that looks at the lining of your food pipe (oesophagus), your stomach and your duodenum (the first part of your small bowel).
Endoscopies can also be used to give treatment.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more information about diagnosing stomach cancer. This includes information about:
- what happens when you see your doctor
- tests you may have if you cannot have an endoscopy
- more information about further tests
Waiting for test results can be a difficult time. Macmillan Cancer Support has information that can help.
Staging and grading of stomach cancer
Your cancer doctor needs information about the cancer to advise you on the best treatment for you. This includes the cancer's:
- stage, which describes the cancer and whether it has spread
- grade, which gives an idea of how quickly the cancer might grow and spread
Your cancer doctor can use the results of your tests to try to identify the stage of the cancer. They will do this before your treatment is planned, to help decide the best treatment for you. But they may not know the exact stage of the cancer until it has been removed with surgery.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more information about staging and grading of stomach cancer.
Treatment
Treatment
A team of specialists will meet to discuss the best treatment options for you. This group is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).
Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will explain the different treatments and their side effects. They will also talk with you about the things worth considering when making treatment decisions.
Your treatment for stomach cancer depends on:
- the stage of the cancer
- your general health
- your personal choices
The main treatments for stomach cancer are described below.
Surgery
Surgery can be used to remove the cancer, or to relieve the symptoms of stomach cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. It can be given on its own or together with other treatments.
Other treatments
Other treatments may include the following.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to treat cancer. It destroys cancer cells in the area where the radiotherapy is given.
It can be given together with chemotherapy after surgery to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back, or to help with symptoms such as bleeding from the stomach.
Targeted therapy
Sometimes a targeted therapy drug called trastuzumab is given with chemotherapy to treat advanced stomach cancer. Targeted therapy drugs act on something in or around the cancer cell that is helping it grow and survive.
Immunotherapy
At present, immunotherapy is not commonly used to treat stomach cancer. Nivolumab or pembrolizumab are sometimes used. You may be offered immunotherapy as part of a clinical trial.
These treatments can be used alone or in combination with each other. You may also have treatment as part of a clinical trial.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more information about treatment for stomach cancer.
After stomach cancer treatment
Once your treatment has finished, you will have regular follow-up appointments. At these appointments you will usually talk with someone from your healthcare team. This may be your surgeon, cancer doctor, specialist nurse or another health professional.
If you have any problems or new symptoms between appointments, tell your cancer doctor or specialist nurse as soon as possible.
It is natural to feel anxious between appointments. It may help to get support from family, friends or a support organisation.
Macmillan Cancer Support also has further information to support you. You can:
- phone the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
- chat to Macmillan specialists online
- use the Macmillan stomach cancer forum, where you can talk to others affected by stomach cancer, ask questions and share your experience
Eating after treatment for stomach cancer
It can take a few months to recover from treatment for stomach cancer.
While you are still in hospital, you will usually be given a soft diet. You will normally be advised to keep to this diet for a few weeks. Eating small amounts more often will help.
Gradually, you will be able to start eating solid foods again. It may take up to a year to adjust to the changes in your digestive system.
After an operation to remove the stomach or part of the oesophagus, food can pass more quickly through the digestive system. This can cause a group of symptoms called dumping syndrome.
Macmillan Cancer Support has more information and advice about recovering from stomach cancer surgery. They also have information about dumping syndrome.
Complications
Wellbeing and recovery
Even if you already have a healthy lifestyle, you may choose to make some positive lifestyle changes after treatment.
Making small changes like keeping active can improve your health and wellbeing and help your body recover.
Macmillan also have more information on finishing cancer treatment.
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