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Stomach cancer
Stomach cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the stomach. Stomach cancer is also called stomach carcinoma. Stomach cancer is becoming less and less common in the Netherlands, much less often than in Asia, for example. Every year in the Netherlands, around 1000 people hear that they have stomach cancer. Stomach cancer is more common in men than in women. Most people with stomach cancer are over 60 years old.
On this page you can read more about the symptoms, examinations and treatments for stomach cancer.
Learn more about stomach cancer
Causes of stomach cancer
The exact cause of stomach cancer is unclear. Stomach cancer can be a result of chronic inflammation of the gastric mucosa. A stomach bacterium can play a role in this.
There are also stomach tumors that have a very scattered (diffuse) growth habit. In the latter category, heredity sometimes plays a role in the development, although hereditary stomach cancer is rare.
Symptoms of stomach cancer
The stomach is a large organ. This can cause a tumor to become very large before symptoms arise. The following symptoms may indicate stomach cancer:
- pain in the (upper) abdomen
- Feeling full quickly
- food that doesn't go down well
- vomit
- Losing weight without a clear cause
- limp feeling, pale appearance
- rapid fatigue (due to anemia)
- black stools
In addition, vomiting blood or food due to blockage of the gastric outlet may indicate gastric cancer.
