Overview

Gastric cancer, also called stomach cancer, begins when cells in the stomach become abnormal and grow uncontrollably. These cells form a growth of tissue, called a tumor. Cancer can begin in any part of the stomach, and it can spread through the blood or lymph system to nearby lymph nodes and other areas of the body, such as the liver, pancreas, colon, lungs, and a woman’s ovaries.

Most stomach cancers are a type called adenocarcinoma, which means that the cancer started in the cells that line the inside of the stomach. Other types of cancerous tumors that form in the stomach include lymphoma, gastric sarcoma, and carcinoid tumor, but these are rare. Additionally, Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) cancer is often commonly mentioned during discussions of gastric cancer as it occurs in the lower part of the esophagus and has similar lining to the stomach.

The stomach is located in the upper abdomen and plays a central role in digesting food. When food is swallowed, it slides down the esophagus, or throat, and enters the stomach. The muscles in the stomach mix the food