The stomach is the part of the digestive system that stores and helps you break down food. Stomach cancer is when cancer develops and is found anywhere in the stomach. Here we answer your questions about this cancer type and how research is driving new cures.
Who is most at risk of stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer is most common in older men. 45% of cases of stomach cancer are documented in people aged 75 and over and it is generally more commonly diagnosed in men. This does not mean young people don’t get stomach cancer, it is just less common.
There are many different lifestyle and environmental factors that can increase your risk of developing stomach cancer. Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol are two of the most common risk factors for many cancer types, including stomach cancer. Avoiding both will decrease your risk of developing stomach cancer.
Your ethnicity can also influence how at risk you are. People of non-Caucasian background, Korean and Chinese people are all at a higher risk. Some of this comes down to sharing a genetic background, or is linked to H. Pylori infection but research is needed to better understand these causes.
The different types of stomach cancer:
Adenocarcinomas
The most common type of stomach cancer is an adenocarcinoma which develops from gland cells. These are the cells that produce the stomach juices your body uses to help digest food. Approximately 90-95% of all stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, meaning often information and statistics about stomach cancer refers to adenocarcinomas only.
Adenocarcinomas can be split into two main categories based on how they look under a microscope: Intestinal and diffuse. Intestinal adenocarcinomas are described as ‘well differentiated’, this means they have developed well and look similar to normal cells under a microscope. Whereas, diffuse adenocarcinomas are ‘poorly differentiated’. Under a microscope they look different to normal cells.
Intestinal adenocarcinomas are more common and are generally slower growing and easier to treat than the diffuse type. Intestinal adenocarcinomas are linked to risk factors like chronic inflammation and dietary factors whereas diffuse adenocarcinomas are more likely to be linked to genetic risks and therefore can occur in younger people.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is a type of soft tissue sarcoma. This is where cancer begins in then nerve cells that line the wall of the stomach that help food pass through your system. Gastrointestinal stromal tumours are very rare and make up around 1% of all gastrointestinal cancers with approximately 795 people being diagnosed with gastrointestinal stromal tumours every year in the UK.
Neuroendocrine cancers
Neuroendocrine cancers can develop in the stomach. They are sometimes also known as neuroendocrine neoplasms which is a phrase used to describe a cluster of cancer cells that start in neuroendocrine cells. These are the cells that listen to our nervous system and when they receive certain signals, release hormones into our bodies. Stomach neuroendocrine tumours are very rare as well, making up less than 2% of all stomach cancers.
Squamous cell carcinoma
It is possible for squamous cell carcinoma to develop in the stomach. This is where cancer forms in the flat cells that cover the lining of the stomach. It is exceedingly rare to find this type of cancer in the stomach with it accounting for approximately 0.04% of all gastric cancers. It is treated the same way as stomach adenocarcinomas.
Primary gastric lymphoma
Primary gastric lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that forms in the stomach. This is cancer that starts in immune cells found in the wall of the stomach. Often this kind of cancer is linked to risk form an infection from a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori.
Staging and grading of stomach cancer:
How is stomach cancer staged?
The most common way stomach cancer is staged is through the ‘TNM’ scale. This refers to the stage of the tumour (T), the lymph nodes (N) and if the cancer has spread, often referred to as metastases (M).
T stage
The T stage is used to describe how big the tumour is. It can be split into four categories (T1-T4). T1 describes when the tumour has grown in the layers that line the stomach wall. T1 is split into T1a and T1b. T1a describing tumours that have grown into the ‘mucosa’ the innermost layer of the stomach. T1b are tumours that have grown past the mucosa and into the ‘submucosa’, a structural layer of supportive tissue.
T2 describes a tumour which has grown into the muscular layer of the stomach and T3 means the tumour has grown through to the outer lining of the stomach.
T4 tumours have grown through the outer lining. Also broken down into two categories, T4a tumours have broken through the outer lining and T4b tumours have broken through the outer lining and into other organs.
N stage
The N stage explains whether the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes, critical components of the immune system that capture and drain germs. The N stage is separated into 4 categories, N0-N3.
N0 means the lymph nodes are clear of cancer cells. N1 is where cancer cells have been found in between 1 and 2 lymph nodes near the site of the tumour. N2 means cancer cells have spread to between 3 and 6 nearby lymph nodes.
N3 is split into N3a, where cancer cells are found in 7-15 lymph nodes near the original tumour, and N3b, where the number increase to 16 and above
M stage
The M stage is very simply whether the cancer has ‘metastasised’ and spread to a different part of the body. There are only two stages, M0 and M1. M0 means the cancer has not spread and M1 means it has.
Symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of stomach cancer:
What are the symptoms of stomach cancer?
Sytmptoms of stomach cancer mainly affect the function of the digestive system:
Feeling sick and vomiting
Heartburn (acid reflux)
Indigestion
Struggling to swallow (known as dysphagia)
Feeling suddenly full when eating
A loss of appetite
Losing weight without trying
Pain in or near your stomach
A lot of these symptoms are similar to gastrointestinal conditions such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It is important to speak to your doctor if you have any concerns or questions.
How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
If your GP is concerned about your stomach cancer risk they may refer you to a specialist who can do a test to see inside your stomach.
This test is called a gastroscopy and involves a long thin tube with a camera on it being fed in your mouth and down your food pipes to your stomach. The specialist doctor can use the camera to inspect the inside of your stomach for anything abnormal. They may also take a small sample of cells from your stomach, called a biopsy. A laboratory can test these cells to see if there is anything abnormal or cancerous.
The whole procedure is short taking around 15 minutes total. Patients may be sedated and local anaesthetic applied, so the process shouldn’t be painful just a little uncomfortable.
How is stomach cancer treated?
Treatment options for your stomach cancer will depend entirely on the specific type of cancer you have, where it is and how big it is. The main treatment options would usually include surgery and chemotherapy, however, radiotherapy and more targeted treatments are also available.
Advanced stomach cancer that has spread can be really difficult to treat and sometimes it is not possible to cure the cancer. In this case, treatment is provided to try and limit symptoms to help patients live longer and more comfortably.
Is stomach cancer curable?
Stomach cancer is curable if caught and treated in its early stages. Unfortunately, symptoms often do not present until late on and therefore people often don’t seek medical help until the disease has progressed.
Statistics show that up to 70% of patients diagnosed with early stage stomach cancer can live to more than 5 years after receiving their diagnosis. Sadly, for those with advanced stomach cancer that has spread, this number can drop dramatically to 6%.
Why does research into stomach cancer matter?
Every year around 6,700 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in the UK. Too often, it is caught too late making it much harder to cure. Research matters because it is the only way to drive new ways to prevent more cases of stomach cancer, detect it quicker, and treat it better.
How can we make a difference to people with stomach cancer?
Thanks to you, we are working towards a day where no life is cut short by cancer. To achieve this we need solutions for everyone wherever they live.
With Curestarter support, we are able to fund research into any cancer type including stomach cancer. There are over 200 different types of cancer and they all have different challenges. International cancer research is supporting scientists have time in the lab to address these challenges so that ultimately patients can have more time with loved ones.
We are proud to support discovery research, the crucial first stage of the research pipeline. By funding it, we can transform our understanding of how cancer works, start new cures and ultimately, reach a day when no life is cut short by stomach cancer or any other cancer.
Your FAQs about stomach cancer
Is stomach cancer the same as gastric cancer?
Yes, stomach cancer and gastric cancer are both names given to cancer that starts in your stomach.
What is the most common type of stomach cancer?
The most common type of stomach cancer is called adenocarcinoma, which develops in the glandular cells of the stomach lining.
How common is stomach cancer in the UK?
Every year around 6,700 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in the UK.
Can stomach cancer spread to other organs?
Yes, unfortunately stomach cancer can sometimes spread to other organs, most commonly the liver. When stomach cancer spreads it becomes harder to treat, so early diagnosis is crucial.
How does early-stage research improve outcomes for stomach cancer patients?
Discovery, or early-stage research, is the first stage in the research pipeline. It is where scientists seek to uncover something new about the nature of cancer so that we can go on to design new cures. Patients need new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat this deadly disease and none of that can happen without discovery research.
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