About Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer usually begins in cells in the inner layer of the stomach. Over time, the cancer may invade more deeply into the stomach wall. A stomach tumor can grow through the stomach's outer layer into nearby organs, such as the liver, pancreas, esophagus, or intestine.^[1]

Stomach cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor. They enter blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into all the tissues of the body. The cancer cells may be found in lymph nodes near the stomach. The cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues.^[2]

1. [1] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/stomach/page3
2. [2] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/stomach/page3

Prevalence of Stomach Cancer

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 7.6 million deaths (around 13% of all deaths) in 2008. Of the 7.6 million deaths, gastric cancer accounts for 740,000; exceeded only by lung cancer (1.4 million deaths).^[3]

In the United States, an estimated 21,000 new gastric cancer cases were diagnosed in 2010.^[4]

1. [3] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/
2. [4] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/stomach

Symptoms^[5]

Early stomach cancer often does not cause symptoms. As the cancer grows, the most common symptoms are:

• Discomfort or pain in the stomach area
• Difficulty swallowing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss
• Feeling full or bloated after a small meal
• Vomiting blood or having blood in the stool

1. [5] http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/stomach/page5