What exactly is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, begins in cells of the stomach. The most common type is adenocarcinoma, which develops from cells lining the stomach.
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Institut National du Cancer
The stomach is an important part of the digestive system. It receives food from the esophagus, mixes it with digestive juices and gradually passes partially digested food into the small intestine.
When abnormal cells begin growing uncontrollably, a tumor can develop.
Stomach cancer can occur in different areas of the stomach, and the location and type of tumor can influence the symptoms a person experiences.
One of the challenges is that early disease can be difficult to distinguish from ordinary digestive problems.
Why can stomach cancer be difficult to notice?
The National Cancer Institute notes that stomach cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms in its earliest stages. When symptoms do occur early, they may include indigestion, stomach discomfort, bloating after eating, mild nausea, reduced appetite and heartburn.
