• What is stomach cancer?
• Early signs and symptoms
• What causes stomach cancer?
• Diagnosis and tests
• How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
• Stomach cancer treatment overview
• Risk factors for stomach cancer
• Prevention of stomach cancer
• Stomach cancer treatment at GenesisCare

In the early stages, stomach cancer can be asymptomatic. In more advanced stages symptoms may include:

• Stomach pain that doesn't go away
  
• Heartburn or indegestion
• Feeling bloated after eating
• Excessive burping or trapped wind

Other stomach cancer symptoms include:

• Diffulty swallowing
  
• Pain in your stomach or lower chest
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty breathing
• Tiredness due to low red blood cell count (anaemia)
• Excessive hiccups

If you’re experiencing symptoms that concern you such as pain after eating, worsening gastric reflux, unexplained weight loss, feeling weak, dizzy or light headed, it may be best to see your doctor for a check-up. While gastric cancer is rare, an early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes.

You can speak to your GP or book an appointment with us to see a specialist quickly. They will assess your symptoms and promptly provide the tests you may need. 

Your GP will refer you to a specialist who assesses your symptoms and, if necessary, carry out diagnostic tests such as:

• Blood tests – to check your general health and rule out other causes of your symptoms
• An oesophago-gastric endoscopy (OGE) – looking inside your stomach with a specialist camera on a thin, flexible tube
• Biopsy – collecting a sample of cells to examine for cancer under a microscope
• Imaging scans, including CT, PET-CT and ultrasound
• Laparoscopy to assess the abdominal lining for any evidence of cancer spread

There are different ways to stage stomach cancer. These depend on whether it’s stage using tests and scans (clinical staging), after surgery (pathological staging) or after chemotherapy (post-neoadjuvant staging).

Below is a general overview of the stages of stomach cancer using clinical staging. 

Stage one: 
The cancer is only in the stomach and it has grown into the inner, supportive or muscular layers of the stomach and there is no cancer in the lymph nodes .

Stage two: 
The cancer has grown into the inner, supportive or muscular layers of the stomach and has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Or stage two can mean the cancer has grown into or past the outer layer of the stomach but has not spread to nearby organs or any lymph nodes.

Stage three:
The cancer has grown into or through the outer wall of the stomach and has spread to nearby lymph nodes but hasn’t spread to other organs.

Stage four: 
The cancer has grown into or through the outer wall of the stomach and has grown into nearby organs and may have spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Or stage four can mean the cancer has spread to distant body parts, like the liver or lungs.

Treatment options for stomach cancer depend on the type, size and spread of the cancer. It may include one or more of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy, along with specialist diet and nutrition.

At GenesisCare, it’s our commitment to offer world-class care to every patient with cancer.  Skip ahead to discover our treatment approach.

The main treatments include:

Surgery
Called a gastrectomy, where all or part of the stomach is removed

Chemotherapy
Anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs which destroy the cancerous cells

Targeted therapy
A specialised group of drugs that attack or block certain processes in the cancer cells

Radiotherapy
High-energy radiation beams which are targeted at the cancer cells

Immunotherapy
Drugs that help your body’s immune system recognise and fight the cancer

Surgery is the main treatment for early stomach cancer and forms part of an overall treatment and care plan for stomach cancer that hasn’t spread. Your surgeon aims to preserve digestive function as much as possible, but life may look different after surgery.

There are different procedures for stomach cancer surgery, and the most appropriate technique depends on the location, size and stage of your tumour.

If your cancer is causing a blockage in your stomach, palliative surgery can also help relieve any associated symptoms. Other options include putting a metal stent into the stomach to relieve any blockage.

Chemotherapy uses cytotoxic (anti-cancer) drugs to destroy cancer cells. For stomach cancer, treatment may be given on its own or in combination with radiotherapy (chemoradiation).

You’ll likely have chemotherapy or chemoradiation before surgery to reduce the size of your tumour before the operation or after surgery to prevent the cancer from coming back.

Targeted (also called biological) therapies are a specialised group of drugs that attack or block processes that cancer cells depend on to survive and grow. They may be given alongside chemotherapy for advanced (stage 4) stomach cancer.

Monoclonal antibodies (or MABs) are the main targeted therapy for stomach cancer. They stick to cancer cells and disrupt their ability to grow or survive. You may be suitable for treatment with MABs if your cancer is HER2-positive.

Angiogenesis inhibitors are another targeted therapy that interferes with the blood supply to cancer cells. Without a good supply of blood, the cancer growth slows, and the tumour may shrink.

Radiotherapy uses targeted, high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells.

Radiotherapy isn’t a common treatment for stomach cancer, but it’s used in certain circumstances:

• Combined with chemotherapy (chemoradiation) after surgery
• Before surgery to help shrink the tumour first
• To relieve symptoms of advanced cancer, like pain or bleeding

Angiogenesis inhibitors are another targeted therapy that interferes with the blood supply to cancer cells. Without a good supply of blood, the cancer growth slows, and the tumour may shrink.

Immunotherapies work by helping your immune system to recognise and fight the cancer. Checkpoint inhibitors are an effective immunotherapy against some stomach cancers.

Only a small number of stomach cancers are suitable for immunotherapy. Your oncologist can arrange specialised tests to see if you could benefit from this treatment.

Risk factors increase the chances of getting stomach cancer. People without risk factors can still develop the condition, so always see a doctor if you notice symptoms.

You may have a higher risk of stomach cancer if you:

• Are male
• Are older than 55
• Smoke
• Have a low-fibre diet
• Eat lots of processed, salty or pickled food
• Have a stomach infection called Helicobacter pylori

One in two cases of stomach cancer could be avoided, according to Cancer Research UK. Lifestyle changes help lower your risk.  

• Quit smoking – 1 in 7 cases of stomach cancer are linked to smoking 
• Aim for a healthy BMI – 1 in 20 cases of stomach cancer are linked to having a body mass index above 25
• Wear protective gear if you work with harmful chemicals in your job
• Lower salt in your diet by opting for low-sodium choices
• Aim to drink less than 14 units of alcohol a week
• Eat five a day of fruits and vegetables to increase your fibre intake 

We are the UK’s leading independent provider of private cancer care. By choosing us, you can be reassured that your treatment is managed by a team of gastrointestinal oncology specialists working together with you to design the best plan for your stomach cancer.

Our approach to world-class care for stomach cancer includes:

• A personalised plan build around you
• Treatment starting within days if needed
• 14 outpatient cancer centres across the UK
• State of the art facilities specialising in advanced radiotherapy
• Compassionate chemotherapy nurses available 24/7 by telephone
• Integrative cancer care including wellbeing therapies, exercise medicine and help to manage cancer-related sleep disruption through The Sleep Project

Recognised by all leading private medical insurers with self-pay options available.

We are proud so many patients rate our care as excellent as we help them through their cancer journey. Hear the unique experiences of people who have had their cancer diagnosis or treatment at GenesisCare in our patient stories section.

Our consultants include expert surgeons who work in local and nationally renowned hospitals and will work together with other cancer specialists to decide the best course of treatment for you.

Our team includes specialist nutritionists who help with dietary choices before and after surgery. 

We are the leading private provider of radiotherapy in the UK, offering world-class expertise and state-of-the-art facilities that specialise in advanced radiotherapy techniques.

We use specialised techniques to help limit side effects by targeting radiation to cancer cells while avoiding healthy cells. Volume-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and surface-guided radiotherapy (SGRT) are advanced technologies that allow cancer areas to be targeted with precision. They adjust the beam shape and intensity and account for movement, like breathing, which helps improve treatment accuracy.

We also offer palliative VMAT radiotherapy for those living with advanced or metastatic stomach cancer to help ease symptoms. We understand that fast access to palliative care is paramount and can usually provide this treatment within 48 hours of a planning imaging scan.  

Our compassionate nursing teams are available 24/7 on a dedicated on-call telephone service and can answer any queries during your treatment. They’ll be able to provide advice about side effects or symptoms and arrange any care you need throughout.

Our centres have all received the Macmillan Quality Environment Mark to reflect the quality of care we provide for people living with cancer.

Dietary choices and nutrition are important in your treatment plan. Our specialist nutritionists support you with eating well to prepare for treatment and recovery, including adjusting your diet for your nutritional needs after stomach cancer.

Every patient is supported through their journey with consultant-led integrative cancer care, which combines medical treatment with life-changing approaches, including exercise medicine, wellbeing therapies and psychological support.

You’ll have optional access to a wellbeing expert to guide you through holistic therapies of your choice, such as counselling, acupuncture, massage and reflexology, through our unique partnership with the Penny Brohn UK charity.

Exercise medicine includes a 12-week personalised programme provided by a specialist physiotherapist, available at selected centres, with techniques shown to improve outcomes for cancer patients and reduce the impact of stomach cancer by enhancing quality of life, helping with pain and mobility, and improving strength. 

• Cancer Research UK
• Macmillan Cancer Support
• NHS England