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Overview
Each year, about 2700 Australians are diagnosed with stomach cancer. The most common type of stomach cancer is called adenocarcinoma of the stomach, which starts in the stomach’s inner lining (mucosa).
Learn more below about the stomach and who treats stomach cancer.
What's on this page
What is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer develops when cells in any part of the stomach grow and divide in an abnormal way. Tumours can begin anywhere in the stomach, although most start in the stomach’s inner lining (mucosa). This type of cancer is called adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastric cancer.
Stomach cancer can spread to nearby lymph nodes or to other parts of the body, such as the liver and lungs. It may also spread to the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum).
How common is stomach cancer?
About 2740 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in Australia each year. Men are almost twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with stomach cancer. It is more common in people over 60, but it can occur at any age.
The stomach
The stomach is a hollow, muscular organ, which is shaped like a pouch. It is part of the digestive system, which helps your body break down food and turn it into energy.
The top of the stomach connects to the end of the oesophagus (food pipe). The bottom of the stomach connects to the start of the small bowel.
When you eat, food goes into your stomach. The stomach uses its own digestive juices and muscle movements to break the food down into a thick liquid. This liquid moves into the small bowel, where nutrients are absorbed into your blood. The parts of the food your body does not need go into the large bowel and leave the body as waste known as faeces (also called stools or poo).
Anatomy of the stomach
Layers of tissue in the stomach wall
- Mucosa – made up of glandular cells (column-shaped cells), makes fluids called enzymes to help break down food, and mucus to protect the stomach lining
- Submucosa – provides blood and nutrients to the stomach
- Muscularis externa (muscle layer) – produces contractions to help break down food and push it into the small bowel
- Serosa (outer layer) – a smooth membrane that surrounds the stomach.
Other types of cancer in the stomach
Other types of cancer can start in the stomach. These include small cell carcinomas, neuroendocrine tumours, lymphomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. These types of cancer aren’t discussed in this section and their treatment may be different. Call Cancer Connect on 13 11 20 for more information.
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