Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices.
What is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is a type of cancer that forms in tissues lining the stomach. Most stomach cancers arise from cells in the inner layer of the stomach, called mucosa, and which make and release mucus and other fluids. They represent about 90% of stomach cancers and are called adenocarcinomas. There are two major types of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Beyond a definition of stomach cancer, in this guide for patients you will find answers to questions such as:
- Is stomach cancer frequent?
- What causes stomach cancer?
- How is stomach cancer diagnosed?
- What is important to know to get the optimal treatment?
- What are the treatment options?
- What happens after the treatment?
This guide for patients has been prepared in collaboration with Anticancer Fund as a service to patients, to help patients and their relatives better understand the nature of Stomach Cancer and appreciate the best treatment choices available according to the subtype of Stomach Cancer. ESMO recommends that patients ask their doctors about what tests or types of treatments are needed for their type and stage of disease.
Patient Guides for Stomach Cancer were published in 2011.
To enquire about permission to translate or support the distribution (in English or in a translated version) of the Patient Guides series, please send an e-mail to patient_guides@esmo.org