A Part of the University of Maryland Medical Center

Connect with UMGCC

Email page Print page

• GI Oncology

• Treatment Services
• Multidisciplinary Approach to Care
• Physicians and Staff
• Liver-Directed Therapies Program
• Pancreatic Cancer Therapy Program
• Trilogy Radiation Therapy
• Patient Education...
• 
    Related Resources
• Digestive Diseases Center
• Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Program
• Clinical Trials
• Information for Patients

Gastrointestinal (GI) Oncology

Patient and Family Education

Stomach Cancer

Risk Factors

The following factors may increase a persons chance of developing stomach cancer:

• Age: Stomach cancer most often occurs in people over the age of fifty-five and, in the United States, is rarely seen in persons under age forty.
  
  
• Gender: Men are twice as likely than women to get stomach cancer.
  
  
• Race: Stomach cancer is more common among African-Americans than among whites in the United States.
  
  
• Diet: Stomach cancer occurs more commonly in people who frequently eat dried, salted, pickled, or barbecued foods.
  
  
• Previous stomach infection: Persons have had a stomach infection caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori may be at a higher risk for cancer of the stomach. Several other stomach disease disorders may also result in an increased risk for developing stomach cancer.
  
  
• Occupation: Stomach cancer is more common among coal miners, metal refiners, and other workers who inhale dust and fumes containing carcinogens.

The chances of getting stomach cancer also are higher if a person has had an infection of the stomach caused by Helicobacter pylori ( bacterium that commonly affects people over the age of fifty).

Other factors that increase the chances of getting stomach cancer are a stomach disorder called atrophic gastritis or Menetriers disease, a disorder of the blood called pernicious anemia, and a hereditary condition of growths (called polyps) in the large intestine.

This page was last updated on: October 5, 2009.

---

For More Information

• Make an Appointment

Please rate the quality of this article. Do you find this article to be helpful / informative?                Poor                                       Excellent Do you have any brief comments on this page: (up to 255 characters) Note: If you have a question, please contact Ask the Expert.

Email this Page                                                                     Print this Page