Cancer Health Center
Understanding the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
What Are the Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?
People with early stomach cancer may have very few, typically vague, symptoms. These can include:
- Indigestion and stomach discomfort
- A bloated feeling after eating
- Mild nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Heartburn
Peptic ulcers cause similar symptoms. Antacids or histamine blockers can give temporary relief. For these reasons, people may not recognize the problem as serious and may put off seeing a doctor. A gastric tumor can grow very large before it causes other symptoms.
In more advanced stages, symptoms of stomach cancer can include:
- Discomfort in the upper or middle part of the abdomen
- Blood in the stool, which appears as black, tarry stools
- Vomiting or vomiting blood, which may look like coffee grounds
- Weight loss
- Pain or bloating in the stomach after eating
- Weakness or fatigue associated with mild anemia
WebMD Medical Reference
Experts are making great strides in treating cancer. But many of these advances apply only after the cancer has been diagnosed. Now the disease is about to come under attack with a revolutionary tool called a nanoshell. Learn how scientists hope the new technology will detect and destroy cancer cells sooner.
