How to Recognize Stomach Cancer

Medically reviewed by Roy Nattiv, MD

Last Updated: March 27, 2022 References

Studies show that over 27,000 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Cancer Society
Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support
Go to source} Unfortunately there isn't an effective early screening method for this type of cancer, but paying attention to physical symptoms may help you to catch it early. Experts note that understanding the symptoms and seeking immediate medical help can improve your chances of a full recovery from stomach cancer.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Identifying Early Symptoms

1
Recognise the main abdominal symptoms. Your stomach is part of your upper digestive system and it helps to process the nutrients in the food that you eat. After leaving the stomach, food goes into your small intestine, and then into your large intestine.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Cancer Institute
An agency in the National Institutes of Health focused on cancer research and patient support
Go to source} The main potential symptoms of stomach cancer can be divided into those which directly affect your abdomen, and those which are more general.
- The abdominal symptoms which typically present earliest include heartburn and indigestion. Heartburn (or dyspepsia), a burning sensation in the chest and upper abdomen, results from regurgitation of acid into the esophagus.
- A tumor in the stomach will often lead to improper breakdown of food in the stomach, which, in turn, can lead to burping and other symptoms of indigestion.
- Just because you experience these symptoms doesn’t mean you have cancer, but if you experience them frequently, speak to a doctor.
2
Be aware of feeling bloated. Stomach cancer can cause abdominal swelling, which can cause frequent bloating. You may feel bloated after eating, and might feel unusually full even after eating only a small amount of food. Feeling bloated can be one of the early symptoms of stomach cancer.
- Stomach pain, and pain in your sternum (breast bone) can be associated with stomach causes.^{[4]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
- If you find yourself frequently feeling full and bloated, and are experiencing some of the other early symptoms, visit your doctor.
Advertisement
3
Consider if you have difficulty swallowing. If you are having difficulty swallowing, it is possible that this is being caused by a tumor at the junction of your esophagus and stomach.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source} A tumor here can obstruct food, causing dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
4
Act if you have chronic nausea. In stomach cancer cases, obstructions may exist at the junction of the stomach and the intestine, blocking the passage of food. This could indicate a tumor at the junction of the stomach and intestine. The most obvious symptom that this is occurring will be chronic nausea and even vomiting.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Vomit in rare cases may be in streaked with blood. If you are vomiting and you see blood, make an appointment to see a doctor immediately.^{[7]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  National Health Service (UK)
  Public healthcare system of the UK
  Go to source}
5
Consider more general cancer symptoms. You may experience more general symptoms that are not specifically related to your stomach, but can nevertheless indicate a problem and may suggest a more aggressive or progressive cancer growth. Be sure to check your lymph nodes. Enlarged lymph nodes are a symptom of a number of illnesses. In the case of (stomach) cancer, cancer cells will travel from the stomach (or wherever the tumor is located) through the lymph ducts, to the left axillary lymph nodes. This then causes swelling.
- Look out for signs of cachexia (decrease in muscle mass). Cancer cells will increase your basal metabolic rate, which will then result in a wasting of muscle.
- Loss of blood from the cancer can result in anemia, which may cause paleness and weakness.
- People with cancer may have chronic fatigue, a feeling of lethargy, or trouble staying alert.^{[8]
  X
  Research source}

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Recognising the More Developed Symptoms

1
Note increasing abdominal pain or discomfort. Pain or discomfort in the abdomen or stomach will intensify as a cancer progresses and a tumor grows. The pain associated with stomach cancer will generally increase in intensity over time, and will not subside with medication.
- Stomach tumors can compress surrounding structures, while ulcerative cancer can erode the stomach's membranes. Both of these two things can cause stomach pain.
2
Evaluate your appetite. Cancer cells secrete substances that diminish the body's hunger signals. This, combined with a tumor tricking your stomach into feeling full, can lead to a distinct loss of appetite.^{[9]
X
Research source} As a result, as cancer progresses, a patient can suffer severe weight loss. If you think you are losing your appetite and losing weight for no reason, keep a record of your weight loss and talk to your doctor.^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cancer Research UK
U.K.-based cancer research and advocacy charity
Go to source}
3
Checks for lumps and swelling in your stomach. Over time more fluid will build up in your stomach and you may begin to notice lumps and swelling in your stomach.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
Go to source} In cancer of the stomach, patients may feel a hard, irregular lump in the abdomen. This lump will move with breathing, and may fall forward when you bend over.
- A developed cancer may cause a hard mass in the left-upper abdomen in the area of the stomach.^{[12]
  X
  Research source}
4
Look for symptoms in your stool and changes in bowel patterns. When stomach cancer reaches more advanced stages, it can cause continuous bleeding, which is lost as excrement. This will result in bloody or black stools. Check for blood in your stools after going to the bathroom. Look to see if they are very dark, and black like tar.^{[13]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cancer Research UK
U.K.-based cancer research and advocacy charity
Go to source}
- If you experience constipation or diarrhea, this can be a symptom of stomach cancer.
- Always be completely open when discussing any symptoms in your waste with a doctor.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Determining Your Risk Factors

1
Consider your age, gender and ethnicity. Some potential risk factors are to do with the healthiness of your lifestyle, but there are some things that you cannot influence or change. There is a significant increase in the rates of stomach cancer of those over 50, and most of those diagnosed are between 60 and 80 years old.^{[14]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Cancer Society
Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support
Go to source} Stomach cancer is also more common in men than in women https://www.wikihow.com/Recognize-Stomach-Cancer.
- In the US, stomach cancer is more common in Hispanic Americans, African Americans, and Asian/Pacific Islanders than it is in non-Hispanic white Americans.
- People who live in Japan, China, Southern and Eastern Europe, and South and Central America are more likely to get stomach cancer than people who live elsewhere.^{[15]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
2
Evaluate your lifestyle. There are significant potential risks associated with your lifestyle and diet. Smoking and drinking alcohol increase the risk of stomach cancer by introducing harmful substances into the body. A diet low in fiber increases the risk of stomach cancer by lengthening the body's exposure time to the carcinogens present in food.^{[16]
X
Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Long-term consumption of salted, dried, and smoked food items with high levels of nitrates also elevates your risk.^{[17]
X
Expert Source

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Expert Interview. 13 January 2021.}
- It is thought that being overweight or obese may be a cause of cancers of the cardia (the upper part of the stomach).
- If you work in the coal, metal, or rubber industry, your risk of stomach cancer may be higher. Workers in these fields are exposed to more carcinogens than workers in other industries.^{[18]
  X
  Trustworthy Source
  American Cancer Society
  Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support
  Go to source}
3
Understand your personal and family medical history. Keep a close record of your personal medical history, and be aware of previous illnesses and treatments you may have had that could increase your chance of later developing stomach cancer. Be especially vigilant if you have a history of Helicobacter pylori infections, chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, or gastric polyps, as all of these conditions predispose you to stomach cancer.^{[19]
X
Trustworthy Source
American Cancer Society
Nonprofit devoted to promoting cancer research, education, and support
Go to source}
- Stomach cancers are more likely to develop in those who have previously had part of their stomach removed in surgery.
- Stomach cancer runs in families, so find out about your family medical history. However, keep in mind that adopting lifestyle changes, such as following a healthier diet, can help to reduce your risk.
- If you have a close relative who was diagnosed with stomach cancer, you are at a greater risk than someone who has no family history of stomach cancer.^{[20]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Roy Nattiv, MD
  Board Certified Gastroenterologist
  Expert Interview. 13 January 2021.}
4
Talk to your doctor. If you are unsure of, or worried about, your risk of developing stomach cancer, get in touch with your doctor. A doctor can help you evaluate your existing risk, as well as give you advice on modifying your lifestyle to help you lower your risk in the future. An early diagnosis can make a big difference to a prognosis, so act quickly if you are concerned.^{[21]
X
Research source}

Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article? Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow

Question

I have been having sex with someone who has stomach cancer. Will I get stomach cancer from them?

Janice Litza, MD
Board Certified Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Litza is a board certified Family Medicine Physician in Wisconsin. She is a practicing Physician and taught as a Clinical Professor for 13 years, after receiving her MD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health in 1998.

Janice Litza, MD

Board Certified Family Medicine Physician

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Cancer is not contagious by itself, but having lifestyle habits, like smoking or drinking excessive alcohol, can also put you at risk.
Question

Can acid reflux be a sign of stomach cancer?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

If you have symptoms of acid indigestion or acid reflux, it's important to be screened for H. pylori, as that might be first presenting symptom of infection. H. pylori infection presents as a risk factor for stomach cancer.
Question

Is stomach cancer genetic?

Roy Nattiv, MD
Board Certified Gastroenterologist
Dr. Roy Nattiv is a Board-Certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. With over 20 years of experience he specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. He completed his pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree (MD) from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Roy Nattiv, MD

Board Certified Gastroenterologist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Genetics can be a risk factor for stomach cancer. If you have had a first-degree relative who's been diagnosed with stomach cancer, it's a good idea to be screened for H. pylori as well. There are also certain inherited genetic disorders that come with an increased risk of stomach cancer. Also, men are twice as likely to develop stomach cancer as women.