The Brain and Spine Institute is made up of experts in the field of neuroscience in order to bring patients the best healthcare in East Tennessee for a full range of neurological diseases and disorders.
myClipboard
myClipboard
Save news, events, articles and doctor's information to your personal clipboard for later reference.
Add items by clicking the 
button.
Create an account
Centers of Excellence
-
-
We provide a comprehensive continuum of cancer services, including prevention, outreach, diagnostic, treatment and support services delivered by our highly skilled staff with compassion and care.
-
The Center for Women & Children's Health is a hub for supporting women's and children's individual healthcare needs. The center provides support, research and unmatched patient-centered care.
-
Emergency and Trauma Services is the only Level I Trauma Center in the area and serves as the tertiary referral center for medical care in East Tennessee, serving Knox County and 21 surrounding counties.
-
The Heart Lung Vascular Institute brings together expertise in clinical care, teaching and research. Patients receive exceptional healthcare combined with patient-centered care.
Share
Print
Related Media
Gastric cancer
Definition
Gastric cancer is cancer that starts in the stomach.
Alternative Names
Cancer - stomach; Stomach cancer; Gastric carcinoma; Adenocarcinoma of the stomach
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Several different types of cancer can occur in the stomach. The most common type is called adenocarcinoma, which starts from one of the common cell types found in the lining of the stomach.
There are several types of adenocarcinoma. Because other types of gastric cancer are more rare, this article focuses on adenocarcinoma of the stomach.
Adenocarcinoma of the stomach is a common cancer of the digestive tract worldwide, although it is uncommon in the United States. It occurs most often in men over age 40. This form of gastric cancer is very common in Japan, Chile, and Iceland.
The rate of most types of gastric adenocarcinoma in the United States has gone down over the years. Experts think the decrease may be because people are eating less salted, cured, and smoked foods.
Risk factors for gastric cancer are:
- Family history of gastric cancer
- Helicobacter pylori infection (a common bacteria that can also cause stomach ulcers)
- History of an adenomatous gastric polyp larger than 2 centimeters
- History of chronic atrophic gastritis
- History of pernicious anemia
- Smoking
Symptoms
- Abdominal fullness or pain
- Dark stools
- Difficulty swallowing, especially if it increases over time
- Excessive belching
- General decline in health
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Premature abdominal fullness after meals
- Vomiting blood
- Weakness or fatigue
- Weight loss (unintentional)
Signs and tests
Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms may not occur in the early stages of the disease. Or, patients may self-treat symptoms that gastric cancer has in common with other, less serious gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, gas, heartburn, and a sense of fullness).
The following tests can help diagnose gastric cancer:
- Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy
- Stool test to check for blood in the stools
Treatment
Surgery to remove the stomach (gastrectomy) is the only treatment that can cure the condition. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may help. For many patients, chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgery may improve the chance of a cure.
For patients who cannot have surgery, chemotherapy or radiation can improve symptoms and may prolong survival, but will likely not cure the cancer. For some patients, a surgical bypass procedure may relieve symptoms.
Support Groups
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group with members who share common experiences and problems. See:
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook varies. Tumors in the lower stomach are cured more often than those in the higher stomach -- gastric cardia or gastroesophageal junction. How far the tumor invades the stomach wall and whether lymph nodes are involved when the patient is diagnosed affect the chances of a cure.
When the tumor has spread outside the stomach, a cure is not possible and treatment is designed to improve symptoms.
Complications
- Fluid buildup in the belly area (ascites)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding
- Spread of cancer to other organs or tissues
- Weight loss
Calling your health care provider
Call your health care provider if symptoms of gastric cancer develop.
Prevention
Mass screening programs have been successful at detecting disease in the early stages in Japan, where the risk of gastric cancer is much higher than in the United States. The value of screening in the United States and other countries with lower rates of gastric cancer is not clear.
The following may help reduce your risk of gastric cancer:
- Don't smoke
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Take a medication to treat reflux disease, if you have it
References
Rustgi AK. Neoplasms of the stomach. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 202.
Gunderson LL, Donohue JH, Alberts SR. Cancer of the stomach. In: Abeloff MD, et al., eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2008:chap 79.
National Cancer Institute. Gastric cancer treatment PDQ. Updated July 8, 2010.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).