What is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer starts anywhere in the wall of the stomach – or inside the stomach itself. It’s also known as gastric cancer. It’s twice as more common in men than women, and about half of stomach cancers affect people aged over 75. In many cases, it’s linked to lifestyle factors.
The most common type of stomach tumours are adenocarcinomas; others include lymphomas and leiomyosarcomas.
Causes of stomach cancer
You’re more likely to have stomach cancer if:
• You are infected with Helicobacter pylori bacteria (although this isn’t harmful to everyone)
• You are overweight or obese
• You eat a lot of processed meat including bacon and sausages
• You smoke
• Your diet is high in salt
• Your diet is low in fruit and vegetables
• You work with certain chemicals
• You have a family history of stomach cancer
• You’ve had radiation therapy for other diseases including testicular cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancers
Symptoms of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer is often detected late as the signs may not be obvious. Symptoms include:
Acidity and heartburn
Anaemia (caused by bleeding in the stomach)
Feeling bloated after you’ve eaten
Indigestion
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain and swelling
Problems swallowing
Trapped wind
Having one or more of these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer but it’s best to ask your doctor for advice. The sooner your cancer is detected, the better the chances of treating it successfully.
Tests and diagnosis
Your doctor will discuss your symptoms and carry out a physical examination. Diagnostic tests may include:
- Endoscopic ultrasound: an ultrasound probe to provide detailed pictures of the stomach
- Endoscopy: to examine the inside of the stomach. Tissue samples may be taken for analysis
- Laparoscopy
- Scans including CT, MRI and ultrasound
- X-ray
Treatments we offer
Depending on how advanced your stomach cancer is, your specialist doctor will propose treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.
Radiotherapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
Radiotherapy kills cancer cells. It’s used in the early stages of cancer treatment or after it has started to spread. It can also be used to relieve pain and discomfort from cancer that has spread.
Chemotherapy is medication that treats your cancer. The drugs kill cancer cells, preventing them from dividing and spreading further.
Meet our doctors
Everything we do is focused on designing better care for our patients. With a network of 12 specialist oncology treatment centres across the UK, we provide the most up-to-date treatments and technology as standard.
We attract and retain some of the most experienced doctors in the country, who all have a passion for improving patient outcomes and specialise in the treatment of different types of cancer.
Search for a centre near you
17 Kings Hill Avenue, Kings Hill, West Malling, ME19 4UA
The Park Centre for oncology, Sherwood Lodge Drive, Burntstump Country Park, Nottingham, NG5 8RX
BMI St Martha Oncology Centre, 46 Harvey Road, Guildford, GU1 3XL
Spire Hospital, Chalybeate Close, Southampton, SO16 6UY
Springfield Cancer Centre, Lawn Lane, Chelmsford, CM1 7GU
Unit 710, Centennial Park, Centennial Avenue, Elstree, Borehamwood, WD6 3SZ
Sunrise Parkway, Linford Wood East, Milton Keynes, MK14 6LS