Introduction

Gastric cancer is also known as stomach cancer. This condition affects men somewhat more often than women. In 2008, approximately 21,500 new cases of gastric cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Two-thirds of those diagnosed with the disease are over the age of 65.

The stomach is just one of many organs located in the abdomen—the area of the body between the chest and the pelvis. It is very important to your ability to digest food and maintain good nutrition. Gastric cancer can start in any part of the stomach.

Other names for gastric cancer are cancer of the stomach, gastric carcinoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. "Gastric" means of the stomach. "Carcinoma" means cancer of the cells forming linings within organs, and "adenocarcinoma" means cancer of the glandular cells within organs. Glandular cells normally release substances important to body well-being.

Nearly all (85 percent to 95 percent) cases of gastric cancer are thought to be caused by infection with Helicobacter pylori, a common type of bacteria. This bacterial infection spreads through food or water contaminated with human waste.

It causes changes in the stomach that over many years can develop into cancer. Other risk factors for gastric cancer include having a family history of stomach cancer, eating large amounts of smoked meat, smoking, drinking excessive alcohol, being 55 or older, or being exposed to industrial chemicals.

This content has been reviewed and approved by Myo Thant, MD.