Gastrointestinal (GI) Oncology Program

Stomach Cancer

What Is Stomach (Gastric) Cancer?

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Cancer of the stomach, also called gastric cancer, is a disease in which cancerous cells develop in the tissues of the stomach.

Approximately 21,500 new cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008. In the United States, the number of cases and the death rate from the disease have declined significantly over the last several decades. In other parts of the world stomach cancer is more common.

Stomach cancer is curable if it is found while it is confined to the stomach. Unfortunately, because there are few early symptoms of stomach cancer, the cancer often spreads to other organs or the lymph nodes before it is diagnosed. If it spreads outside the stomach, it is usually more difficult to treat and cure.

The stomach is a J-shaped organ in the upper abdomen and is part of the body's digestive system. Food reaches the stomach through a tube called the esophagus, which connects the mouth to the stomach. The stomach secretes gastric juices that help to break down chewed food. After leaving the stomach, partially digested food passes into the small intestine and then into the large intestine.

Stomach cancer often attacks the stomach lining, typically beginning near the top of the stomach where the esophagus and the stomach join.

This page was last updated on: May 14, 2009.

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