Stomach Cancer

Gastric cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the stomach.

The stomach is an organ of digestion. The stomach is a J-shaped organ located between the oesophagus and the intestines.

The wall of the stomach is made up of 3 layers of tissue: the mucosal (innermost) layer, the muscularis (middle) layer, and the serosal (outermost) layer. Gastric cancer begins in the cells lining the mucosal layer and spreads through the outer layers as it grows.

Symptoms

In the early stages of gastric cancer the following symptoms may occur:

• nausea
• indigestion and stomach discomfort
• heartburn
• bloating after eating
• loss of appetite

In more advanced stages of gastric cancer the following symptoms may occur:

• vomiting
• unexplained weight loss
• swelling & pain of the abdomen
• yellowing of the skin (jaundice)