Gastric Cancer Quiz

Lung cancer causes the largest number of cancer deaths in the U.S., but stomach cancer is common around the world. It is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, particularly in less-developed countries. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, it is the 5th most common cancer in the world. Also the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that stomach cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer death worldwide.

The U.S. used to have high rates of stomach cancer until then 1930s, when widespread use of refrigeration made fruits and vegetables readily accessible and reduced the need for salted or smoked meats. The use of antibiotics to treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, a leading cause of stomach cancer, is also believed to have decreased rates in the U.S.

Risk factors for developing stomach cancer include:

- Gender: men are more likely to develop stomach cancer than women
- Diet: eating few fruits and vegetables and/or high amounts of preserved meats increases risk
- Infection: H. pylori bacteria are linked to stomach cancer
- Age: over age 50
- Ethnicity: stomach cancer is more common in Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian/Pacific Islanders
- Location: stomach cancer is more common in China, Japan, Eastern and Southern Europe, and Central and South America
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese

Stomach cancer can run in families. If you have a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with stomach cancer you may be more likely to develop the disease.

People with type A blood have an increased risk of developing stomach cancer. The reasons for this are unknown.

In the early stages, stomach cancer often does not present any symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they often resemble other medical conditions. Signs and symptoms of stomach cancer may include:

- Loss of appetite
- Indigestion/heartburn/stomach upset
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea/vomiting
- Weight loss (without trying)
- Bloating, especially after eating
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Fatigue/weakness
- Blood in stools

If you experience any of these symptoms, see a doctor.

Stomach cancer diagnosis begins with a history and physical by your doctor. You may be referred to a gastroenterologist, a specialist in disorders of the digestive tract. An upper endoscopy may be ordered. This is a test where a long tube with a camera on the end is inserted down your throat into the stomach to visualize your upper digestive tract including the esophagus, stomach, and the upper part of the small intestine. A biopsy, or tissue sample, may be taken. An ultrasound may be used with the endoscope to produce images of the organs and help see how far stomach cancer has spread.

Certain strains of Helicobater pylori (H. pylori) are commonly associated with stomach cancer.

About half the population has some type of H. pylori infection but most will not develop stomach cancer.

Removing the affected part of the stomach in a procedure called a gastrectomy can treat stomach cancer in the earliest stages when the cancer is limited to the inner lining layer of the stomach. Once the cancer has spread it may be treated with gastrectomy, lymph node removal, chemotherapy, and/or radiation.

The average age a person is diagnosed with stomach cancer is 69. About 60% of people diagnosed with stomach cancer are 65 or older. The majority of people diagnosed with stomach cancer are between their late 60s to their 80s.