Stomach cancer care

Most stomach cancers start in the cells lining the inside of the stomach. Stomach cancer is uncommon in the U.S. and other developed countries that have access to safe food sources.

Advocate Health Care offers a complete range of cancer-fighting options, using standard, state-of-the-art and investigational approaches. Our GI cancer team includes surgeons with experience performing complex surgery for stomach cancer, including reconstructive techniques to restore the digestive process.

Find an Advocate Cancer Institute near you.

Symptoms & risk factors

Symptoms: Like many GI cancers, stomach cancer has subtle symptoms that may go unnoticed until the disease is more advanced. Symptoms include:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Feeling full or bloated after a small meal
• Nausea and vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss

Risk factors: Men over the age of 72 have higher rates of stomach cancer but there are other risk factors to consider, including:

• Chronic gastritis
• Chronic h.pylori infection
• Pernicious anemia
• Family history of GI cancers
• Ethnicity (Asian, Hispanic, African-American and Pacific Islander individuals are at greater risk)
• Diets high in salted, smoked or pickled foods

Detection & diagnosis

Because stomach cancer is not prevalent in the United States, regular screenings have not been found to be effective. However, people with a greater risk of getting stomach cancer may choose to undergo screening tests to detect stomach cancer in its earliest stages.

Types of screenings:

Your doctor will determine which screening is best for you, taking into consideration your age, medical history, and symptoms:

• Upper endoscopy: Uses a probe inserted through the mouth and into the digestive tract and to the stomach.
• Computed tomography (CT scan): Takes multiple X-ray "slices" to reconstruct a detailed image of the stomach.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Diagnostic procedure that combines radiofrequencies, a very powerful magnet and a computer to create detailed images of body tissues.
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan: Assesses metabolic activity within organs or tissue and can be useful in detecting cancer.
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP): Enables the physician to view inside the biliary tract and may be used to diagnose problems in the stomach.
• Tissue biopsy: A small sample of tissue is taken and analyzed to confirm whether it is malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous).
• Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS or endosonography): Relatively new technology that features an ultrasound transducer positioned at the tip of an endoscope; it can get much closer to the organs than traditional ultrasound performed from outside the body. 

Treatments & therapies

If you’re diagnosed with stomach cancer, rest assured you have some of Illinois’ best experts by your side. Together, our multi-skilled team will work closely with you to create a personal cancer treatment plan, which may include the latest surgical, medical and radiation therapies, as well as options like immunotherapy, which uses your body’s natural defense system to destroy cancer cells.

Support for every step

We’re committed to caring for the whole you and providing the resources you and your loved ones need to manage a cancer diagnosis. You’ll find a full range of free or low-cost cancer support services – from education to rehabilitation, nutritional to spiritual counseling, support groups and more empowering programs.