The Facts
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, affects the stomach, which is found in the upper part of the abdomen, just below the ribs. The stomach is part of the body's digestive system; it produces acids and enzymes that break down food before passing it to the small intestine. The cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and spread up towards the esophagus (the tube that connects mouth to the stomach) or down into the small intestine.
Rates of stomach cancer vary widely throughout the world. In Japan,
it's the most common cancer, where it affects one in every 1,000 people. The
incidence is also very high in Chile and Iceland. In the US,
while the rates of stomach cancer aren't as high, it still strikes an estimated 21,000 Americans
every year.
This type of cancer strikes older people more often than younger, men more often than women and people of African descent more often than Caucasians.