Stomach cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the stomach.
The stomach is located in the upper abdomen, is J-shaped, and is part of the digestive system. The digestive system processes the nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water) in the food that is ingested and assists in the elimination of waste products from the body. Food enters the stomach from the pharynx through a hollow, muscular tube called the esophagus. The partially digested food leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine and subsequently the large intestine.
The esophagus and stomach are part of the upper GI (digestive) system.
For more information about stomach cancer, see the following PDQ summaries:
The number of new cases of gastric cancer in the United States has remained at the same level since 2005.
The number of new cases of gastric cancer in the United States has remained at the same level since 2005. Men are twice as likely as women to be diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the world.
Over the years, the number of deaths from stomach cancer has decreased, especially in the United States. Blacks are more than twice as likely to die from stomach cancer as whites.