November is Stomach Cancer Awareness Month. In honor of all the patients who have fought and are currently fighting these diseases, the Paris Charter Against Cancer would like to contribute to the discussion and present some facts about the disease and what you can do to decrease your risk of being diagnosed with Stomach Cancer.
What is Stomach Cancer?
Stomach Cancer, sometimes also referred to as Gastric Cancer, is cancer of the stomach. This type of cancer can form anywhere in the stomach, but most commonly occurs in the main part of the stomach, the stomach body, or the gastroesophageal junction.
The majority of the time, this form of cancer begins in the lining (particularly in the glandular cells of the mucosa) of the stomach and is a relatively slow progressing cancer.
Types of Stomach Cancer:
Adenocarcinomas:
The most common type of stomach cancer. It develops in the glandular cells of the mucosa.
There are two types of stomach adenocarcinomas:
Diffuse Adenocarcinoma, which is less common but also grows rapidly and can be difficult to treat.
Intestinal Type Adenocarcinoma (ITAC), which is more common, and slower-growing. This type of cancer is also likely to be treatable with targeted drug therapy, as the cancerous cells are more likely to have certain gene mutations that allow for such treament paths.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs):
GISTs are a rare type of tumor that starts in the interstitial cells of Cajal, a specialized kind of cell found in the GI tract. While GISTs can form anywhere in the GItract, ver 50% of them form in the stomach.
Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs):
NETs are tumors that start in cells that are similar to nerve cells and endocrine cells in their functions. These types of cells are scattered throughout various organs in the body. In the digestive system, these cells help regulate the growth of other digestive system cells. NETs are typically slow-growing tumors and rarely metastasize to other organs. NETs include Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors.
Lymphomas:
Lymphomas are cancers that typically start in the immune system, but some forms, like the various types of Primary Gastric Lymphoma, start in the stomach.
Risk Factors
You can have an increased risk of stomach cancer if you have:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Growths of polyps (non-cancerous cells)in the stomach
- Gastritis (irritation and swelling of the inside of the stomach)
- A history of smoking
- A stomach infection caused by Helicobacter pylori
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in salty and smoked foods
- Type A blood
- A family history of stomach cancer
- A family history of genetic conditions associated with stomach cancer or other cancers. These include:
- Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
- Lynch Syndrome
- Juvenile Polyposis Syndrome
- Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
- Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
- Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)
You also have an increased risk of stomach cancer if you are:
- Aged 65 or over
- Assigned male at birth
- People assigned male at birth have a marginally higher risk of developing stomach cancer than people assigned female at birth
- You are ethnically Eastern European, South or Central American, or East Asian
Prevention & Screening
Prevention
You can lower your risk of developing stomach cancer by:
- Treating infections like Helicobacter pylori promptly if you’re presented with a positive test result
- Treating stomach conditions such as ulcers and gastritis promptly
- Eating healthy – a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in salts and red meats
- Avoid smoking and using other tobacco products
Screening & Testing
In many countries, there are no standard tests for screening if you present with an average risk of developing stomach cancer.
If you present with a higher risk, your doctor may suggest the following for screening to diagnose stomach cancer:
- An upper endoscopy to look at the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum for any abnormalities.
- A barium swallow/Upper GI series to check the esophagus and stomach for abnormalities
- CT (CAT) Scan to search for any tumors
- Biomarker testing:
- This is a way to look for abnormal genes or gene mutations that can affect your cancer risk and the effectiveness of certain cancer treatments.
- Stomach cancer biomarkers included in testing are
- HER2 Protein
- Microsatellite instability
- Tumor mutational burden
- NTRK genes
- Mismatch repair deficiency
- Pd-L1 Protein
Statistics
- Stomach cancer is the 5th most common cancer globally, with over 980,000 new cases being reported in 2022.
- It is the 4th most common in men and 7th most common in women
- It is the 5th most lethal cancer, with over 660,000 deaths in 2022.
Graph Showing Incidence and Mortality Rate of the Top 15 Cancer Sites for Both Sexes According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Graph Showing Incidence Rate of the Top 15 Cancer Sites for Both Sexes According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
Map Showing Incidence Rate of Stomach Cancer for Both Sexes According to the 2022 GLOBOCAN Report
