Stomach Cancer Survival Rate

by Disease Fix Largest Disease Information Center

All types of cancers start with an uncontrolled division of cells in the body. Cells present in any part of the body can become cancerous, and hence can spread to other areas of the body. Gastric cancer or commonly called stomach cancer starts in the stomach.

Stomach cancers develop slowly over many years. Before a true cancer develops, pre-cancerous changes often occur in the inner lining (mucosa) of the stomach and these early changes are mostly asymptomatic and often go undiagnosed.

Gastric cancers starting in different sections of the stomach may cause different symptoms and therefore tend to have different results. Mostly, the location of a cancer can affect the treatment options. For example, cancers that start at the gastro-esophageal junction (GE junction) are staged and treated the same as cancers of the esophagus. Similarly, a cancer that starts in the cardia of the stomach but then grows into the gastro-esophageal junction is also staged and treated like an esophageal cancer. Stomach cancer is usually not found at an early stage because it often remains asymptomatic. Some of the symptoms of stomach cancer in the later stages include:

· Indigestion or heartburn

· Pain or discomfort in the abdomen

· Nausea and vomiting

· Vomiting up solid food shortly after eating

· Diarrhea

· Constipation

· Bloating of the stomach immediately after meals

· Loss of appetite

· A feeling of food getting stuck in the throat while eating

Some advanced stage cancer symptoms include:

· Weakness and fatigue

· Vomiting blood

· Presence of blood in the stool

· Unexplained weight loss

What is the Prognosis or Outlook for People who Have Stomach Cancer?

The prognosis or outlook for stomach cancer depends on the different stages of the cancer. It has been found that people in the early stages of stomach cancer have a much greater survival rate than those at a later stage.

If stomach cancer is diagnosed in its earliest stage and can be removed with an endoscope, the five-year survival rate has been found to be higher than 90%. If the stomach cancer has metastasized to areas surrounding the stomach, the five-year survival rate is 28%. In case of stomach cancer metastasized to areas beyond those surrounding the stomach, the five-year survival rate is 4%.

Survival Rate for all Stages of Stomach Cancer

The stomach cancer survival rates vary according to the different stages and have been found to be different at each stage. For example, at stage 1 stomach cancer, more than 80 out of 100 people (80%) with stage 1A stomach cancer will survive for almost 5 years or more after being diagnosed. Similarly, 70% people with stage 1B stomach cancer will survive for 5 years or more after being diagnosed. At stage 2 stomach cancer, 60% of people with stage 2A stomach cancer will survive for 5 years or more after being diagnosed. More than 40 out of 100 people (40%) with stage 2B stomach cancer will survive for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

In case of people with stage 3 stomach cancer, it has been found that 25% people with stage 3A stomach cancer will survive for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed and almost 20% of people with stage 3B stomach cancer and 10 % of people with stage 3C stomach cancer will survive for 5 years or more after being diagnosed. Similarly, it has been found that people with stage 4 cancer will survive for almost for 5 years or more after they are diagnosed.

What Affects the Survival Rate of Stomach Cancer?

The outlook of patients depends on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. This actually means how big the tumor is and whether it has spread to other areas or not. The type of cancer and grade of the cancer cells can also affect the survival rate of people with stomach cancer. Besides, the general health and fitness of a cancer patient also affects the survival, the fitter a patient is, the better he may be able to cope with his cancer and treatment.