Gastric Cancer

About half of gastric cancers occur in the stomach, but they’re also found anywhere in the digestive system – the esophagus, liver, stomach, gall bladder, large and small intestines and rectum. These cancers are sometimes called gastric myoblastoma and gastricmyosarcoma.

In 2020, more than 27,000 cases of stomach cancer were expected in the United States, with significantly more men than women diagnosed. Particularly vulnerable are people of Japanese and Korean descent, with Korea having the highest rate of stomach cancer worldwide.

The Hartford HealthCare Digestive Health program helps identify cases of gastric cancer, often linked to the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic heartburn.

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Call 855.255.6181 or request a callback for support, advice, or a second opinion.

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Symptoms of Gastric Cancer

In the early stages, symptoms of gastric cancers can include:

  • Indigestion and stomach pain
  • Feeling bloated after eating
  • Nausea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Heartburn

In more advanced cases, symptoms can include:

  • Blood in the stool
  • Vomiting
  • Weight Loss
  • Jaundice
  • Ascites, or a build-up of fluid in the abdomen
  • Trouble swallowing

Types of Gastric Cancer

  • Adenocarcinoma: Up to 95 percent of stomach cancers are adenocarcinoma, developing in the stomach’s inner lining (the mucosa).
  • Lymphoma: Cancers of the immune system found in the stomach wall.
  • Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST): This rare tumor can develop anywhere in the digestive tract, though it is most often found in the stomach.
  • Carcinoid Tumor: Originating in hormone-making stomach cells, these tumors usually do not spread to other organs.

Diagnosing Gastric Cancer

We use several procedures and tests diagnose gastric cancer, including:

Treating Gastric Cancer

Stomach cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy or immunotherapy. If your cancer has reached Stage IV, surgery usually is not the primary treatment.

Surgical procedures include:

  • Endoscopic Mucosal Resection: Often used to address early-stage cancer by removing a tumor using an endoscope.
  • Subtotal or Partial Gastrectomy: Removes part of the stomach and nearby lymph nodes. Your surgeon then connects the rest of the stomach to the esophagus or small intestine in a procedure called a partial gastrectomy.
  • Total Gastrectomy: Major surgery to remove the entire stomach and attach the esophagus to the small intestine.
A member of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Alliance, we provide innovative care close to home.

We offer the latest treatments through our ongoing membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Alliance, which gives you access to the latest standards of care and clinical trials.

The MSK Alliance

Gastric Cancer News

April 06, 2022

No Time to Let Your Guard Down: Stomach Bug Strikes as COVID Declines

Just when we seemed to catch a break with COVID-19 [...]

February 18, 2022

Why Mochi, a Traditional Japanese Dessert, Is a Choking Hazard

Mochi is a traditional Japanese dessert served to [...]

August 11, 2020

Abdominal Bloating? Why Water With Food is Bad, Pineapple is Good

Many patients complain of postprandial (after eati [...]

December 09, 2019

Stomach Cancer: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore

By Dr. Bret Schipper Chief of Surgical Oncology [...]

February 02, 2017

New Endoscopic Procedures, Via Japan, For Colon, Stomach And Esophageal Cancers

Hartford HealthCare News Service Dr. Michael Kara [...]

January 18, 2017

Revenge Of The Stomach Bug: How To Avoid Norovirus

It's the talk of schools, offices and homes along  [...]

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