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Summary
The stomach is an organ between the esophagus and the small intestine. It mixes food with stomach acid and helps digest protein. Stomach cancer mostly affects older people - two-thirds of people who have it are over age 65. Your risk of getting it is also higher if you
- Have had a Helicobacter pylori infection
- Have had stomach inflammation
- Are a man
- Eat lots of salted, smoked, or pickled foods
- Smoke cigarettes
- Have a family history of stomach cancer
It is hard to diagnose stomach cancer in its early stages. Indigestion and stomach discomfort can be symptoms of early cancer, but other problems can cause the same symptoms. In advanced cases, there may be blood in your stool, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or trouble swallowing. Doctors diagnose stomach cancer with a physical exam, blood and imaging tests, an endoscopy, and a biopsy.
Because it is often found late, it can be hard to treat stomach cancer. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
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General Information about Gastric Cancer
(National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Stomach Cancer (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- What Is Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
- How Is Stomach Cancer Diagnosed? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
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Risks of Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute)
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Stages of Gastric Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
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Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Screening (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
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Upper GI Endoscopy (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
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Upper GI Series (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
Prevention and Risk Factors
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Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Prevention (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- What Are the Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
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Drugs Approved for Stomach (Gastric) Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
- Gastrectomy - slideshow Also in Spanish
- Surgery For Stomach Cancer (American Cancer Society)
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Treatment Option Overview (Gastric Cancer) (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
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Treatment Options by Stage (Gastric Cancer) (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
Living With
- What Happens After Treatment for Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Do We Know What Causes Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
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Helicobacter pylori and Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- Stomach Polyps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (National Library of Medicine)
- Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
Health Check Tools
- Stomach Cancer Risk Questionnaire (Siteman Cancer Center)
Statistics and Research
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Cancer Statistics: Cancer of the Stomach (National Cancer Institute)
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Snapshot of Stomach Cancer (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
- What Are the Key Statistics about Stomach Cancer? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
- What's New in Stomach Cancer Research and Treatment? (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Stomach Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Results of third-generation epirubicin/cisplatin/xeloda adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with radically...
- Article: The Effects of Dinner-to-Bed Time and Post-Dinner Walk on Gastric...
- Article: Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Ratio in Patients Receiving Combined...
- Stomach Cancer -- see more articles
Reference Desk
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Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
Find an Expert
- American Cancer Society
- ASGE: Find a Doctor (American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy)
- Find a Cancer Doctor (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
- Find a Gastroenterologist (American College of Gastroenterology)
-
National Cancer Institute
Also in Spanish
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Organizations That Offer Support Services (National Cancer Institute)
Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Abdominal radiation - discharge Also in Spanish
- After chemotherapy - discharge Also in Spanish
- Gastrectomy Also in Spanish
- Radiation enteritis Also in Spanish
- Stomach cancer Also in Spanish
-
Understanding Chemotherapy
(National Cancer Institute)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
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What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy (National Cancer Institute)
- PDF
Also in Spanish
