Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is the name for cancer that begins in the stomach, generally the stomach lining. This type of cancer can eventually spread to lymph nodes and organs such as the liver, pancreas, colon, lungs, and ovaries. The stomach can be divided into five sections, and the location of the cancer in the stomach can affect things like symptoms, prognosis, and treatment options. Risk factors are conditions that increase a person s chance of getting a type of cancer.
Risk factors are different for various types of cancer.
Most people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in the 60-70 age range. Scientists believe that the dramatic decline in stomach cancer incidence in the US from the 1930s may be due to the increased use of refrigeration for food storage, which replaced salting or smoking food for storage. Nitrites can be converted by other bacteria into compounds that have been found to cause stomach cancer in animals. Chronic atrophic gastritis is a possible precancerous change to the lining of the stomach. It is important to note, however, that many of these symptoms are more often caused by other medical conditions.