Hard to Stomach: Symptoms of Stomach Cancer You Should Know

Gastric or stomach cancer can be a particularly aggressive and deadly cancer, especially when not detected early. While it may not be the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US, it is still one of the most common and deadliest forms of cancer in the world. In the US, gastric cancer is more prevalent in older men, Asian Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Black non-Hispanics and Hispanics

Gastric cancer is dangerous because it is often overlooked due to its non-specific and subtle early symptoms. In some cases, individuals can find themselves symptomless, further complicating the detection process. It is often detected at a later stage when the pain or discomfort is unbearable. By the time it reaches this advanced and incurable stage, treatment is with the intent of maximizing length of quality of life. Many chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy treatment are still available, and the success of these is increasing. However, cure can only be achieved for earlier stage disease so it is crucial to be aware of the risk factors and symptoms associated with gastric cancer to catch it early and improve the chances of successful treatment.

For the first symptoms of stomach cancer, the early bodily changes that may be too vague 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 could vary from person to person. For example, a tumor growing near the opening of the stomach (near where the esophagus connects to the stomach) may cause food to stick and could obstruct the proper control of the sphincter (a valve that prevents backflow from the stomach), causing reflux of acid.

With the discomfort during and after eating, blockage of food into the stomach and early fullness as well as poor appetite, many will lose weight. If you’re having any of these, you should consider discussing this with your doctor. As a result of appetite loss, early gastric cancer is often accompanied by weight loss.

In advanced stages, new symptoms would follow, in addition to the abovementioned symptoms:

• Persistent pain in the upper and middle part of the abdomen
• Early satiety (feeling full sooner than usual, as 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 gastric cancer patient, age 27.

As Matt Budgell’s case illustrates, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers and gastric cancer share similar symptoms—many which are not specific to cancer and do not include the symptoms listed above. Often, non-cancer therapies such as antacids and histamine blockers may provide temporary relief, but cancer-causing symptoms will persist and worsen over time despite the other therapies, eventually leading to a search for cancer.

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

For further reading on gastric cancer symptoms, guides are also available at the following sites:

American Society of Clinical Oncology | Stomach Cancer Symptoms and Signs

National Cancer Institute | Stomach Cancer Symptoms