Gastric Cancer

The American Cancer Society estimates that about 21,130 cases of gastric (stomach) cancer were diagnosed in 2009 in the United States, and that 10,620 people died from the disease in the same time period. Deaths from stomach cancer have decreased substantially over the past several decades in the United States, but the disease is more common globally and is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.

About 90% to 95% of gastric cancers arise in the cells that form the inner lining of the stomach. Gastric cancers usually develop slowly over many years. While precancerous changes occur frequently, they usually don’t cause symptoms and remain undetected. As gastric cancers progress, they can grow through the wall of the stomach and invade nearby organs.  Gastric cancer may also spread to the lymph system and, as it becomes more advanced, to distant organs.

A major risk factor for gastric cancer is infection with Heliobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria. Tobacco use and diets containing large amounts of smoked foods, salted fish and meat, and pickled vegetables may also increase the risk of gastric cancer. Age and race are also risk factors. There is a sharp increase in the incidence of stomach cancer after age 50. Gastric cancer in the United States is most common in Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, sometimes used in combination, are the primary treatments for gastric cancer. The choice of treatment depends in part on the location and stage of disease. Some treatments may be undertaken with a goal of curing the disease, while other approaches may be used to relieve symptoms, such as pain, bleeding or trouble eating.

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s “Detailed Guide: Stomach Cancer”

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