Stomach cancer

The most common form of stomach or gastric cancer involves the growth of cancerous cells in the stomach wall to form a tumour. In most cases, this process happens over many years before it is detected.

Stomach cancer is more common in men than women and generally occurs in older people.

While scientists do not yet know the cause of stomach cancer, they do know the risk factors that lead to its development. These include

• Infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), is present in up to 90 per cent of people who have stomach cancer
• Gut inflammation, gastritis
• Long lasting anaemia, called pernicious anaemia
• Stomach polyps or growths.

Lifestyle factors that increase the risk of stomach cancer include

• Smoking
• Being aged over 50
• Being overweight
• Eating a lot of salty, smoked or processed food
• Eating too much meat
• Alcohol
• Family history.

Reducing the risk of stomach cancer

The risk of developing all cancers can be reduced by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced low-fat diet including fruit and vegetables, avoiding salty, pickled and smoked food, not smoking, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight. In addition, treating stomach ulcers that result from an H. pylori infection will reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer.

The main test for stomach cancer is an endoscopy, which involves inserting a thin flexible tube with a camera into your mouth to look at the digestive tract. Following a diagnosis, other tests, including a CT scan, ultrasound scan, PET scan, laparoscopy and bone scan will determine what the stage of the cancer.

Stomach cancer treatment

Treatment for stomach cancers depends on where the cancer starts. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted drugs and immunotherapy. Sadly, because stomach cancer is not diagnosed until a late stage, surgery is not always possible.