Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by
• Stomach Cancer
• Gastric cancer
What is Stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer is a disease that starts in the stomach. The stomach is an organ that helps digest food. It's shaped like a sack in the upper part of your belly.
In stomach cancer, some cells in the stomach start growing out of control. These abnormal cells can form a lump called a tumor. The cancer usually begins in the inner lining of the stomach and can slowly grow deeper into the stomach walls over time.
There are different types of stomach cancer, but the most common one is called adenocarcinoma. This type starts in the cells that make mucus, which helps protect the stomach lining.
Stomach cancer often doesn't cause symptoms early on. When symptoms do appear, they can include:
• Feeling full after eating only a small amount of food
• Trouble swallowing
• Belly pain
• Heartburn
• Nausea and vomiting
• Losing weight without trying
• Feeling tired all the time
It's important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so seeing a doctor for a proper diagnosis is crucial.
Several things can increase a person's risk of getting stomach cancer:
• Being older (most people who get it are over 65)
• Being male (it's more common in men)
• Eating a lot of salty or smoked foods
• Smoking
• Having a family history of stomach cancer
• Having certain stomach conditions, like long-lasting stomach inflammation
Doctors use different tests to find stomach cancer. These might include:
• Looking inside the stomach with a tiny camera (called an endoscopy)
• Taking small samples of stomach tissue to check for cancer cells (biopsy)
• Special X-rays or scans to see inside the body
If stomach cancer is found, doctors determine its stage, which tells how far the cancer has spread. This helps decide the best treatment.
Treatment options can include:
• Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach
• Chemotherapy (special medicines that kill cancer cells)
• Radiation therapy (using high-energy beams to kill cancer cells)
• Targeted therapy (drugs that attack specific parts of cancer cells)
• The earlier stomach cancer is found, the better the chances of successful treatment. However, because early symptoms are often mild or absent, many cases are found when the cancer is more advanced.
Trend
• In the United States, about 26,500 new cases of stomach cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2024.
• Over the last five years (2019-2023), an estimated 132,500 people were diagnosed with stomach cancer.
• The five-year projection suggests that around 132,500 new cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed between 2024 and 2028, assuming the current trend continues.
History
Stomach cancer has been known for centuries, but our understanding of it has changed significantly. In the early 1900s, it was one of the most common and deadly cancers in the United States. However, its occurrence has been declining steadily since the 1930s.
This decrease is thought to be due to several factors, including better food preservation methods (less salt used for preservation), increased refrigeration use, and lower rates of a stomach infection called H. pylori. The development of better diagnostic tools, like endoscopy, has also helped doctors find and treat stomach problems earlier, sometimes before they turn into cancer.
Despite the overall decline in the U.S., stomach cancer remains a significant health problem worldwide, especially in parts of East Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America.
Source of Information
• American Cancer Society
• Cleveland Clinic
• Mayo Clinic
For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.
