Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a disease that primarily affects older people, with an average age at diagnosis of about 71 years.
Although some people think of the stomach as the entire area below the chest and above the pelvis, this section of the body is actually called the abdomen. The stomach – an organ that holds and stores food – is located in the upper left abdomen, in the lower portion of the rib cage.
While stomach cancer ranks as the 14th most common cancer in the U.S., its incidence has dramatically decreased since the 1930s. Experts believe this may be due to dietary factors or better storage (such as refrigeration) of the foods we eat.
Types of Stomach Cancer
The stomach has five layers; as a cancer grows deeper into the layers, the outlook for survival lessens. Most stomach cancers start in the mucosa layer where stomach acid and digestive enzymes are made. Under this is the submucosa, which is surrounded by muscle called the muscularis. The subserosa and serosa are the two outermost layers of the stomach.
The types of stomach cancer are:
Risk Factors & Symptoms
The risk of developing stomach cancer is slightly higher in men than women. Although there is no one risk factor directly related to stomach cancer, physicians recommend a diet without heavily smoked or salted foods, and one rich in fruits and vegetables. In addition to diet, older age and stomach disease (such as helicobacter pylori infector or chronic gastritis) may predispose an individual to stomach cancer.
Cancers starting in different sections of the stomach may cause different symptoms and spread in different ways. Symptoms may include indigestion and stomach discomfort, a bloated feeling after eating, mild nausea, loss of appetite and heartburn. In more advanced stages of stomach cancer, there may be blood in the stool, vomiting, weight loss, pain, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), ascites (a build up of fluid in the abdomen) and trouble swallowing.