Hard to Stomach: Symptoms of Stomach Cancer You Should Know

Stomach cancer (also known as gastric cancer) can be a particularly aggressive cancer, especially when not detected early. It remains one of the most common and deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. In the US, stomach cancer is more prevalent in the following sub-populations:

• Older men
• Asian Americans
• Asian/Pacific Islanders
• Black non-Hispanics
• Hispanics

Stomach cancer is dangerous because people often overlook it, with its non-specific and subtle early symptoms. In some cases, individuals can find themselves symptomless, thereby further complicating the detection process.

Stomach cancer is often detected at later stages of the disease, when the pain or discomfort becomes unbearable. By the time it reaches this advanced and incurable stage, treatment is with the intent of improving quality and length of life.

Many cancer treatments are still available today, and the success of these therapies is increasing. However, curing stomach cancer may only be possible in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, it's important to know the risk factors and symptoms of stomach cancer to catch it early and increase the chances of successful treatment.

For the first symptoms of stomach cancer, some early bodily changes that may be too vague or subtle to spot include:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling bloated or full after eating small amounts of food
• Heartburn
• Loss of appetite
• Unintended weight loss
• Pain

Depending on where in the stomach the cancerous mass grows, symptoms may vary from person to person. For example, a tumor growing near the opening of the stomach (where the esophagus connects to the stomach) can block food from passing through. This could obstruct proper control of the sphincter (a valve that prevents backflow from the stomach), causing acid reflux.

If you’re having any of these early signs of stomach cancer, you should consider discussing this with your doctor as soon as you can.

In advanced stages of stomach cancer, new symptoms would follow, in addition to previously mentioned symptoms:

• Persistent pain in the upper and middle part of the abdomen
• Early satiety (feeling full more quickly than usual because the stomach muscles fail to push food down to the intestines properly)
• Vomiting, with blood found in the vomitus
• Bloody stool
• Weakness or fatigue (from not eating enough or loss of blood)
• Sudden weight loss
• Food getting stuck when swallowing

“When I finally got in to see a gastric specialist, they said, ‘You’re young. You probably just have an abnormal amount of acid or an ulcer in your stomach. Take some Prilosec OTC and you’ll be good to go.’”

– Matt Budgell, stage 3 stomach cancer patient, age 27.

Matt Budgell’s case shows that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers and stomach cancer can share similar symptoms. Many of these symptoms are not specific to cancer and do not include the symptoms listed above. Non-cancer therapies like antacids and histamine blockers may provide temporary relief. However, cancer-related symptoms will persist and worsen despite treatment, eventually leading to a search for cancer.

At the same time, gastric or peptic ulcers are also risk factors for stomach cancer. If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms or if GERD-like symptoms persist even after treatment, do consult a specialist in the stomach and digestive system.

For further reading on the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer, guides are also available at the following sites:

American Society of Clinical Oncology | Stomach Cancer Symptoms and Signs

National Cancer Institute | Stomach Cancer Symptoms