Experiences with
Stomach cancer

SymptomsCausesDiagnosisMedical treatments

Main symptoms of stomach cancer

There are many possible symptoms of stomach cancer, but they might be hard to spot.

They can affect your digestion, such as:

heartburn or acid reflux
having problems swallowing (dysphagia)
feeling or being sick
symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot
feeling full very quickly when eating

Other symptoms include:

loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
a lump at the top of your tummy
pain at the top of your tummy
feeling tired or having no energy

If you have another condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, you may get symptoms like these regularly.

You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.

problems swallowing
a lump in your tummy
lost a noticeable amount of weight
other symptoms of stomach cancer that get worse or do not get better after 3 weeks
a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion that are not getting better after 3 weeks of using your usual treatments

you're being sick for more than 2 days
you have symptoms that you're worried about, but are not sure where to get help

111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Who is more likely to get stomach cancer

Anyone can get stomach cancer. It's not always clear what causes it.

You might be more likely to get it if you:

are over the age of 50
are a man
have a long-term infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) – read more about the link between H. pylori and stomach cancer on the Cancer Research UK website
have certain stomach conditions, such as long-term, severe acid reflux, gastritis or a condition called pernicious anaemia, which affects your immune system
have a brother, sister or parent who had stomach cancer

Many stomach cancers are also linked to lifestyle.

How to reduce your risk of getting stomach cancer

try to quit smoking
try to lose weight if you are overweight
wear protective clothes and masks if you work in a job where you're exposed to harmful chemicals, such as in the rubber industry or coal mining
cut down on how much salt you eat
try to cut down on alcohol and avoid drinking more than 14 units a week
try to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day

Camera test for stomach cancer

A GP or specialist will probably refer you for a test to look inside your stomach.

This test is called a gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy). It looks for any problems in your stomach, including stomach cancer.

During a gastroscopy:

A long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside (called an endoscope) will be put into your mouth, down your throat and into your stomach.
A specialist will use the camera in the endoscope to look for any problems.
A small sample of cells (called a biopsy) may be collected during the procedure. These cells will be sent to a laboratory to check for cancer.

The test should take around 10 to 15 minutes.

It should not be painful, but you might find it uncomfortable.

You may be offered things to make you more comfortable and make the test easier, such as:

local anaesthetic spray to numb the back of your throat
sedation – medicine given through a small tube in your arm to help you relax

A gastroscopy can also help find problems in other nearby organs. Such as the food pipe (oesophageal cancer) and the first part of the bowels (small intestine).