Stomach cancer also known as gastric cancer is uncommon in the United States, making up only 1.4% of all new cancer cases in 2021, and the number of people diagnosed with it each year is declining.
The most common type of stomach cancer is called adenocarcinoma (about 90% to 95%), which originates in the mucus-producing cells on the inside lining of the stomach.
- blood in the stool;
- vomiting;
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin); and
- difficulty swallowing.
If you have any of the above symptoms on a persistent or recurring basis, you should see a physician, particularly if you are aged older than 65 years or have any other stomach cancer risk factors.
A physician may perform a physical exam, bloodwork, endoscopy or other imaging tests. The treatability of stomach cancer often depends on how early it is caught. Treatments may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or a combination of these approaches.
