Stomach Cancer

The stomach is a muscular sac-like organ in the upper abdomen. It is part of the digestive system. Organs of the digestive system change food into energy and help pass waste out of the body.

Stomach Cancer often does not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages. The most common symptom is a mild ache in the abdomen that feels like indigestion.

About this Cancer

Statistics

  • The incidence rate for stomach cancer is expected to decrease in 2024, being the 12th most diagnosed cancer among males and 17th among females, with a 5-year survival rate of 27% and 32%, respectively.
  • It is estimated that around 4,000 Canadians will be diagnosed with stomach cancer, of which 2,600 are men and 1,400 are women, and that around half (2,000) of them will die from the disease (1,250 men and 760 women).

Source: Canadian Cancer Society stats 2024

Symptoms

  • Pain or discomfort in the abdomen
  • Heartburn
  • Loss of appetite
  • Feeling full after a small meal
  • Not feeling hungry when expected to
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Bloating in the abdomen
  • Nausea or vomiting (with or without blood)
  • Dark stool or blood in the stool
  • Anemia (too few red blood cells)
  • Fatigue and weakness
  • Swallowing problems
  • Fluid build-up in the abdomen
  • Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes

For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society, the American Cancer Society, the Mayo Clinic, or the Cleveland Clinic.

Risk Factors

  • Certain infections and medical conditions (for example, infection with H pylori bacteria)
  • Smoking tobacco
  • Inherited genetic conditions and family history of stomach cancer
  • Previous stomach surgery
  • Environmental exposures
  • Contact with ionizing radiation (high energy radiation that can remove particles from an atom
  • Working in the rubber industry (being in contact with cancer-causing chemicals)
  • Type A blood
  • Alcohol
  • Excess weight
  • A diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in salty and smoked foods.

For more information, visit the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, or No Stomach For Cancer.

Diagnosis

  • CBC (measurement of the number and quality of white/red blood cells and platelets)
  • Blood chemistry tests (measure certain chemicals in the blood)
  • Liver function tests
  • Kidney function tests
  • Electrolyte panel
  • Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (looking inside the esophagus/stomach/small intestine)
  • Biopsy (tissue/cell removal and testing)
  • Endoscopic biopsy
  • EUS-guided needle biopsy
  • Laparoscopic biopsy
  • Tumour marker tests
  • CT (computed tomography) scan
  • Chest x-ray
  • MRI
  • PET scan (observe changes in metabolic activity of body tissues)
  • Laparoscopy (examine or remove internal organs)

For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Mayo Clinic.

Treatment

  • Surgery (strongly varies between stage 0 and stage 4)
  • Gastrectomy
  • Endoscopic resection
  • Limited surgical resection
  • Subtotal or total gastrectomy
  • Palliative surgery
  • Stent
  • Feeding tube
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Gastrojejunostomy
  • Endoluminal laser therapy
  • Chemoradiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy
  • Targeted therapy

For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, or the American Cancer Society.

Stories from Survivors

Stories from Other Groups

If you would like to share your stomach cancer story, please email us at info@survivornet.ca.

Resources

Latest Research

Stomach Cancer Groups

Canada

  • My Gut Feeling is a stomach cancer support network for patients, survivors and caregivers to provide peer-to-peer support, education, awareness and advocacy as they go through their cancer journey. Visit them at https://www.mygutfeeling.ca/ 
  • Canadian Gastric Cancer Association (CaGCA):The Canadian Gastric Cancer Association (CaGCA) provides a platform for researchers and clinicians to access relevant research and share information with the goal of improving patient outcomes across the board. The CaGCA is an affiliate chapter of the International Gastric Cancer Association. Visit them at Canadian Gastric Cancer Association
  • Canadian Digestive Health Foundation: We are the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, Canada’s trusted resource on digestive health. Committed to providing useful, up-to-date information and research to help Canadians better manage digestive conditions and live healthier lives. Visit them at Canadian Digestive Health Foundation