The stomach is an organ that is part of our digestive system. The stomach lies between the esophagus and the small intestine. These abnormal cells continue to divide to make more cells, even though the body does not need the new cells. After a while, the accumulation of unneeded new cells results in a mass of extra tissue called a growth or tumor.
Stomach tumors can develop in any part of the stomach.
Cancerous or malignant tumors often outgrow their original site and spread to nearby tissues or organs by entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The spread of cancer cells to other areas is called metastasis. Stomach cancer is not very common, affecting only about 24,000 Americans each year. The cause of stomach cancer is only partially understood. It is known that people with the following characteristics are more likely to develop stomach cancer.