Stomach Cancer Survival Rate

What Is Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, as the name suggests, is cancer of the stomach. Stomach cancer forms when the cells in the stomach begin to multiply out of control. Adenocarcinomas make up between 90 and 95 percent of all stomach cancer diagnoses. These malignancies affect the gland cells in the mucosa, which is the stomach's innermost layer.

Classified as a malignant neoplasm, the ICD-10 code for gastric cancer is C16. 9. The gastric cancer ICD-10 is an international classification system for the disease in the ICD-10 diagnosis codes list.

In this article, we will discuss stomach cancer survival rates and prognosis and provide relevant information about diagnosis and staging, cancer types, and treatment options to help you understand the factors influencing stomach cancer survival rates [¹].

Types of Stomach Cancer

Scientists have divided stomach cancer into a few different types. Common types of stomach cancer include [²]:

Adenocarcinomas: This is the most prevalent form of cancer and is categorized into subtypes: Diffuse and Intestinal. The intestinal type of adenocarcinomas has a moderately better outlook since the cancerous cells have gene changes that might be treated with targeted drug therapy. In contrast, the diffuse kinds are rare neoplasms that spread and grow faster, making treatment more challenging.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Also known as (GISTs), these tumors form within the interstitial cells of Cajal located within the stomach wall. These tumors are more susceptible to spreading to different body parts (carcinomatosis).
Neuroendocrine tumors: These are tumors that grow in the cells of the stomach or other parts of the digestive tract. Neuroendocrine tumors are slow-growing and don't spread to other organs.
Lymphomas: These malignancies develop in the lymphocytes (immune system cells). Lymphomas typically develop in other body regions, but in some cases, they can originate from the stomach wall.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer?

The signs and symptoms that patients experience may vary depending on the stage and severity of the stomach cancer. Some common symptoms of stomach cancer include [³]:

Loss of appetite.
Indigestion and heartburn.
Feeling full after small meals.
Vomiting.
Nausea.
Abdominal pain.
Fluid buildup or swelling in the area surrounding the abdomen.
Blood in stool.
Yellowing skin (jaundice) usually occurs when the cancer cells spread to the lungs.
Excessive tiredness or weakness — usually linked to anemia (deficiency of red blood cells).
Unexplainable discomfort in the belly area (mainly above the navel).

Although stomach cancer patients are highly likely to experience these symptoms, they might also indicate other illnesses. Therefore, individuals experiencing one or more of these symptoms should consult their medical health provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment, if needed.

Stomach Cancer Diagnosis and Staging

How Is Stomach Cancer Diagnosed?

When you visit a medical health professional who complains of stomach cancer symptoms, they may take your medical history and conduct a physical exam to look for the risks and signs of stomach cancer. If they suspect you might have stomach cancer, they may advise you to get a few tests, including [⁴]:

Biopsy
Upper endoscopy
Imaging tests
PET scan (Positron emission tomography)
CT scan (Computed tomography)
Chest X-ray
Laparoscopy
MRI scan (Magnetic resonance imaging)
Organ function test

Apart from these tests, the doctors usually run a blood test to rule out indications of anemia. Moreover, they may also conduct a stool test to look for signs of blood in the feces which may not be visible to the naked eye.

Stomach Cancer Staging

Stomach cancer stages are divided into a numbered scale from 0 to 4, with the higher values indicating a more severe form of the disease [⁵].

Stage 0 is the earliest stage of stomach cancer, also known as carcinoma in situ, where cancer has not spread to nearby areas.
Stage 1 is classified into two categories: stage 1A and Stage 1B. Stage 1A is when cancer has yet to spread to the primary layer of the stomach, whereas stage 1B is when the disease has spread to one or more lymph nodes or grown in the primary layer of the stomach.
Stage 2 is divided into two categories: Stage 2A (the disease has spread to at least three lymph nodes surrounding the stomach) and Stage 2B (the disease has spread to seven or more lymph nodes near the stomach region).
Stage 3 is categorized into stages 3A (cancer has spread to the primary stomach layer), 3B (cancer has spread to the subserosa layer), and 3C (cancer has spread to all layers within the stomach).
Stage 4 is when cancer has metastasized and spread to other body regions. 4 out of 5 stomach cancer cases are diagnosed with stage 4 in the US.

Is Stomach Cancer Hereditary?

Stomach cancer is hereditary since individuals with immediate family (parents, children, or siblings) with a stomach cancer diagnosis are more likely to develop the disease at some point. However, only 1 to 3% of stomach cancers are hereditary, meaning most individuals with a stomach cancer diagnosis do not have a family history of the disease [⁶][⁷].

Stomach Cancer Survival Rate

Survival rates may provide patients a sense of how many people with similar forms and stages of stomach cancer survived to a specific age, generally five years following diagnosis. However, survival statistics may not accurately predict how long you will live. Instead, they will give you a perspective on whether the treatment will be effective.

Remember that survival statistics are calculated based on the results of large groups of individuals with a particular malignancy. They cannot, however, accurately predict the results of specific instances since each case is distinct. Speak with your medical health provider to better understand how these statistics apply to your case.

What Is the Survival Rate for Stomach Cancer?

WHO (World Health Organization) findings show that gastric or stomach cancer caused the deaths of around 769,000 individuals globally in 2020. Furthermore, stomach cancer was ranked sixth on the list of the most prevalent cancers in the world in 2020.

The 5-year survival rate for stomach cancer can help patients better understand their prognosis after diagnosis. According to statistics, approximately 62% of stomach cancer patients are diagnosed after the condition has metastasized (spread to other regions). If stomach cancer is diagnosed before it metastasizes, the 5-year survival rate is generally more positive.

However, the outcomes depend on the stage of the disease detected during surgery. When detected and treated before metastasizing, the 5-year survival rate for stomach cancer is approximately 70%.

Moreover, if the disease progresses to nearby organs, tissues, or lymph nodes, the five-year survival rate drops to 32%. Lastly, if the disease has progressed to distant locations of the body, the 5-year survival rates could be as low as 6%. Unfortunately, around 36% of stomach cancer patients get diagnosed at this stage.

Moreover, it is important to remember that these figures are estimates calculated from yearly data obtained from individuals with stomach cancer in the US. These results are also from 5 years ago. Therefore, they may be inadequate for a proper prognosis since they lack the results of the diagnosis and treatment advancements that may have occurred in the five-year duration. You can talk to your medical health provider about how the five-year survival rates may have changed in the last five years and what that means for you [⁸].

Survival Rate of Stomach Cancer in Women Vs. Survival Rate of Stomach Cancer in Men

According to statistics, the likelihood of men developing stomach cancer is much higher than women. Moreover, the survival rates for women and men vary depending on age. Research shows that older individuals are more likely to develop stomach cancer; the older a stomach cancer patient is, the lower their chances of survival. The relative 5-year survival rates based on different age groups for women and men are illustrated in Table 1. [⁹]

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Stomach Cancer Treatment Options

There are several treatment options for stomach cancer. The treatment option your medical health provider will advise you depends on factors like your age and stage of cancer. Some patients may undergo several treatments to discover an option that works for them. Common treatment routes for stomach cancer include [¹⁰]:

Chemotherapy
Surgery
Immunotherapy
Radiation therapy
Targeted Drug therapy

Clinical Trials for Stomach Cancer

If you have tried every available treatment for stomach cancer and have had no favorable outcomes, or if you are reluctant to go through the therapies, you may be an excellent candidate for stomach cancer clinical trials. Clinical research trials are vital for improved patient outcomes and the advancement of medical knowledge since they test novel therapies and treatments.

If you want to participate in stomach cancer clinical trials, go to Power for more information about trials that could suit your case. You can also use the AI-powered tool Leal Health to get information on clinical trials in your region.

Conclusion

Takeaway

Although stomach cancer is life-threatening, survival statistics can be reasonably positive with early detection and adequate treatment. Awareness of the symptoms of stomach cancer, such as blood in the stool, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal discomfort, may help individuals seek medical assistance early before the disease progresses to the severe stages.

Working with your medical providers to build a treatment plan suited to your condition is critical. With appropriate support and treatment, many patients can effectively manage stomach cancer and have a greater overall survival rate.