Gastric Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Written by Harsha Moole, MD. Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Gastric Cancer?
A gastroenterologist, a doctor who treats diseases of the digestive system, often finds stomach cancer with a scope test. A medical oncologist, a doctor who treats cancer, and a surgeon who removes tumors usually plan treatment together. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is gastric cancer?
Gastric cancer is also called stomach cancer. The stomach is an organ that mixes food with stomach acid. It also helps digest protein.
Stomach cancer mostly affects older people. Two-thirds of people who have it are over age 65. It is hard to diagnose in its early stages. Because it is often found late, it can be hard to treat.
Symptoms
Early stomach cancer is hard to spot. Indigestion and stomach discomfort can be symptoms. In advanced cases, there may be:
- Blood in your stool
- Vomiting
- Weight loss with no known reason
- Trouble swallowing
- Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
Causes and who gets it
Doctors know of several things that raise the risk of stomach cancer. Your risk is higher if you:
- Have had a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
- Have had stomach inflammation
- Are a man
- Eat lots of salted, smoked, or pickled foods
- Smoke cigarettes
- Have a family history of stomach cancer
How doctors diagnose it
A doctor starts with your personal and family medical history. Then comes a physical exam, which includes feeling your abdomen, or belly, for anything abnormal. Blood tests check for anemia, a low red blood cell count. Anemia can be a sign of bleeding in the stomach. The doctor may also check your stool for hidden blood.
One test is an upper endoscopy with a biopsy. An endoscope is a thin, lighted tube. It is passed through the mouth and down the throat. It can also take a sample of cells or tissue, called a biopsy. A pathologist, a doctor who studies tissue, looks at the sample under a microscope for signs of cancer.
Other tests include a barium swallow, a series of x-rays taken after you drink a liquid that contains barium. A CT scan, which makes detailed pictures from an x-ray machine, may also be used. Biomarker testing looks at tumor tissue for genes, proteins, and other substances. The results can help you and your doctor choose a treatment.
If you are diagnosed, you will be referred to a gastrointestinal oncologist. This is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancers of the stomach and intestines. More tests show if the cancer has spread. This is called staging.
Treatment
Your cancer care team will plan treatment with you. It may include more than one type of treatment. The team looks at the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
Surgery is a common treatment for stomach cancer. A gastrectomy, the removal of part or all of the stomach, is the main surgery. In a subtotal gastrectomy, the surgeon removes the part of the stomach that has cancer and nearby lymph nodes. In a total gastrectomy, the surgeon removes the whole stomach. The surgeon then attaches the esophagus to the small intestine so you can keep eating and swallowing.
Early-stage cancers may be removed with an endoscope in a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection. If a tumor blocks the way into or out of the stomach, a stent can be placed. A stent is a thin, expandable tube that lets you eat normally.
Other treatments may be used with surgery or on their own. Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. It may be given before surgery to shrink the tumor. It may also be given after surgery to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. Targeted therapy uses drugs to attack specific cancer cells. Immunotherapy helps your immune system fight cancer.
When to see a doctor
Talk with a doctor if you have blood in your stool, vomiting, weight loss with no known reason, jaundice, or trouble swallowing. These can be signs of advanced stomach cancer, but other conditions can cause them too. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you vomit blood, have severe belly pain or pressure, or faint.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either can listen to your symptoms, order first blood tests, and refer you for an endoscopy. They can also help coordinate your cancer specialists and follow up with you during and after treatment.
Common questions
Is stomach cancer the same as gastric cancer?
Yes. Stomach cancer and gastric cancer are two names for the same disease.
Why is stomach cancer hard to find early?
Early stomach cancer can cause only indigestion and stomach discomfort. Other problems can cause the same symptoms. That makes it hard to diagnose in its early stages, so it is often found late.
Does an H. pylori infection raise the risk of stomach cancer?
Yes. Having had a Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the things that raises your risk. Stomach inflammation, smoking, and a family history of stomach cancer also raise it.
How is stomach cancer treated?
Treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. The plan depends on the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and your preferences.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Stomach Cancer
- National Cancer Institute - Stomach Cancer Diagnosis
- National Cancer Institute - Stomach Cancer Treatment
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
