Stomach cancer

Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is more common in men than in women. This cancer type is increasingly less common in the Netherlands and is much less common here than in Asia, for example. The cause of stomach cancer is often unknown. One possible factor in its development is a stomach bacteria. Other times it may have a hereditary cause, although hereditary stomach cancer is very rare.

The stomach is a large organ, which means that a tumor can grow to a significant size before causing symptoms. Patients usually experience vague symptoms like:

• abdominal pain;
• bloating;
• discomfort after meals;
• vomiting;
• weight loss without a cause;
• muscle weakness;
• pale complexion;
• fatigue (caused by anemia)
• black stool;
• some people experience vomiting (with or without blood) when the tumor blocks the passage of the intestine.