Cancer Treatment & Information

What are the symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

Early symptoms of stomach cancer tend to be vague and nonspecific. Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:

• Mild upper abdominal discomfort associated with nausea and loss of appetite
• Difficulty swallowing because of a tumor involving the upper part of your stomach, near the esophagus
• Feeling of fullness after taking only a small amount of food

The following symptoms may indicate advanced disease:

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Overt blood loss - Vomiting blood or a material that looks like coffee grounds or passing black stools
• Severe nausea and vomiting - A late symptom caused by blockage of the stomach drainage by the enlarging cancer

How is Stomach Cancer diagnosed?

If you have a symptom that suggests stomach cancer, your doctor must find out whether it is really due to cancer or to some other cause. Your doctor may refer you to a gastroenterologist, a doctor whose specialty is diagnosing and treating digestive problems. The doctor asks about your personal and family health history. You may have blood or other lab tests. You also may have:

• Physical exam: The doctor checks your abdomen for fluid, swelling, or other changes. The doctor also feels for swollen lymph nodes. Your skin and eyes are checked to see if they seem yellow.
• Upper GI series: The doctor orders x-rays of your esophagus and stomach. The x-rays are taken after you drink a barium solution. The solution makes your stomach show up more clearly on the x-rays.
• Endoscopy: The doctor uses a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) to look into your stomach. The doctor first numbs your throat with an anesthetic spray. You also may receive medicine to help you relax. The tube is passed through your mouth and esophagus to the stomach.
• Biopsy: The doctor uses an endoscope to remove tissue from the stomach. A pathologist checks the tissue under a microscope for cancer cells. A biopsy is the only sure way to know if cancer cells are present.

You may want to ask your doctor these questions about having a biopsy:

• How will the biopsy be done?
• Will I have to go to the hospital?
• Will I have to do anything to prepare for it?
• How long will it take? Will I be awake? Will it hurt?
• Are there any risks? What are the chances of infection or bleeding after the procedure?
• How long will it take me to recover? When can I resume my normal diet?
• How soon will I know the results? Who will explain them to me?
• If I do have cancer, who will talk to me about next steps? When?

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