Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is a kind of cancer from any part of the stomach. Stomach cancer causes about 800,000 deaths worldwide per year.[1] The odds of survival are 5 to 15%.[2] The life span of someone with stomach cancer is five to fifteen years.[2] This is because this type of cancer can spread faster than other cancers.[2]
Most stomach cancer is caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. Diet foods are not proven causes,[2] but some foods, such as smoked foods, salted fish and meat, and pickled vegetables are associated with a higher risk. Heavy metals, such as arsenic in soil, have been linked to gastric cancers and have positive relationship with incidence or death.[3][4]
Types of stomach cancer
There are several types of stomach cancer, which can be categorized based on the location in the stomach where the cancer begins. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the cells lining the inside of the stomach. Other types of stomach cancer include:[5]
- Lymphoma: This starts in the lymphatic system, which is a network of vessels and nodes that help circulate blood and fight infection.
- Sarcoma: This develops in the connective tissues or muscles of the stomach.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: This type of tumor arises from the interstitial cells of Cajal, which are specialized cells that control the movement of food through the digestive tract.
- Carcinoid tumor: This type of tumor arises from the neuroendocrine cells in the stomach, which produce hormones that regulate digestion.
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