Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells first develop in the stomach. The most common type of stomach cancer is gastric adenocarcinoma, or cancer of the glandular tissue in the stomach. Risk factors for the cancer include such things as smoking, being male, and having a family history of the disease. Symptoms of stomach cancer may include indigestion, heartburn, bloody stools, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, and jaundice. Treatment options for the disease usually include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

 

Stomach Cancer: An Introduction

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a disease in which cancer cells first form in the stomach. In the United States, stomach cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths. Although the incidence of stomach cancer in the United States has decreased since the 1930s, stomach cancer is a major cause of death worldwide, especially in developing countries.
 

Stomach Cancer: Understanding the Stomach

The stomach is a J-shaped hollow organ that is located in the upper abdomen. The stomach is the part of the digestive system that processes nutrients from food and helps pass waste material out of the body. After the partly digested food leaves the stomach, it will pass into the small intestine and then into the large intestine.
 
The wall of the stomach is made up of three layers of tissue:
 
  • The mucosal (innermost) layer
  • The muscularis (middle) layer
  • The serosal (outermost) layer.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD