Published: Jul 7, 2021

 

Your stomach plays an essential role in digestion, using gastric juices and enzymes to break down food while absorbing nutrients your body needs to function properly. Like other organs in the digestive system, the stomach can be affected by several diseases, including stomach cancer.

A risk factor is anything that increases the chance of developing a disease. Having one or more stomach cancer risk factors does not mean you will develop stomach cancer, just as some people diagnosed with stomach cancer have no known risk factors.

However, understanding these factors can help you make informed decisions about cancer prevention, cancer screening, alternative treatments for stomach cancer, and when to speak with a healthcare provider about your risk of stomach cancer.1,2

What is Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer is a type of cancer that usually begins in the inner lining of the stomach. As it grows, cancer cells may move into deeper layers of the stomach wall and, in some cases, spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body. The most common type of stomach cancer is adenocarcinoma, but other cancer types can also develop in the stomach.1

Symptoms of Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer symptoms vary, and part of what makes the disease so difficult to pinpoint is that it typically does not present any noticeable symptoms early on. Symptoms usually only show up when the tumor has grown larger or spread to other organs. Signs and symptoms that do show up include:

  • Lost appetite
  • Feeling full after eating only a little
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Abdominal pain
  • Swelling in the abdomen coupled with weight loss
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • General fatigue

Singularly, and even together, these symptoms are easy to ignore. Most everyone has had a moment of nausea or indigestion. Many of these symptoms can also be rooted in other types of cancer or other non-cancerous disorders altogether. This is why trying to diagnose your condition based on symptoms alone can be highly misleading and inconclusive.

Natural Cancer Treatment. Learn more!

What Are the Main Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer?

The exact cause of stomach cancer is not fully known, but research has identified several risk factors for gastric cancer. Some of these are related to infections or inherited conditions, while others involve diet, tobacco use, body weight, or certain medical conditions. Understanding these risk factors is also an important part of learning how to detect stomach cancer, as they can help identify people who may benefit from appropriate screening or medical evaluation.

Different risk factors may also affect different parts of the stomach. For example, H. pylori infection is linked more strongly to cancer in the lower and middle part of the stomach, while obesity and gastroesophageal reflux are linked more often to the upper part of the stomach.2,3

H. pylori infection and long-term stomach inflammation

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that can cause infections in the stomach and digestive system. H. pylori infections appear to be a major contributor to stomach cancer, particularly in the lower part of the stomach. Stomach cancer patients generally have a higher rate of infection with H. pylori. Long-term infections with this bacteria can lead to atrophic gastritis and other changes to the inner lining of the stomach that can potentially become cancerous. These infections have also been associated with forms of lymphoma in the stomach.

Family history and inherited cancer syndromes

Having a family history of stomach cancer may increase your risk of developing it, particularly if a first-degree relative, such as a parent, sibling, or child, has been diagnosed with the disease. However, having a family history does not mean you will develop stomach cancer, just as some people diagnosed with stomach cancer have no known inherited risk factors.1,2

Certain inherited cancer syndromes are also associated with a higher risk of stomach cancer, including:

  • Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC)
  • Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome)

If you have a strong family history or one of these inherited conditions, your healthcare provider may recommend closer monitoring or discuss whether stomach cancer screening is appropriate based on your individual risk of stomach cancer.1,2

Pernicious anemia and stomach polyps

Cells in the stomach lining produce a substance known as intrinsic factor, which helps to absorb vitamin B12. Some people may not produce enough intrinsic factors, leading to a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Without enough vitamin B12, your body can have trouble making red blood cells. This is known as pernicious anemia, and it can lead to a wide range of health issues, including an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Some types of stomach polyps, especially adenomatous polyps, can also sometimes develop into cancer.1,2

Age, sex, and geography

The risk of stomach cancer increases with age, and most people diagnosed with stomach cancer are older adults. Stomach cancer is more common in men than in women, and it is also more common in East Asia, Western Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America than in the United States.2,3

Diet

While no single food causes stomach cancer, dietary habits may increase your risk over time. A diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in salted, smoked, or poorly preserved foods has been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.1,2

Some studies also suggest that frequent consumption of processed meats and meats cooked at very high temperatures, such as grilling or charcoal cooking, may increase gastric cancer risk, although the evidence is less consistent than for salted or preserved foods.4

Choosing a balanced diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods may help lower your risk as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.1,2

Alcohol

Although alcohol is more commonly associated with liver disease, heavy alcohol consumption has also been linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer. Research suggests that the risk of gastric cancer is highest among people who regularly consume three or more alcoholic drinks per day.2,3

Alcohol may irritate the stomach lining, contributing to inflammation and tissue damage over time. While moderate alcohol consumption does not guarantee someone will develop cancer, limiting alcohol intake may help reduce your overall cancer risk.2,3

Smoking

Smoking is one of the most well-established cancer risk factors and has been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer, particularly cancer in the upper part of the stomach near the esophagus. Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens that can damage stomach cells after they are swallowed.1,2

Research suggests that people who smoke have approximately twice the risk of developing stomach cancer compared with people who have never smoked. Quitting smoking benefits overall health and may help lower your risk of several cancer types, including stomach cancers.1,2

Excess Body Weight

Having excess body weight is another risk factor for stomach cancer, particularly cancers that develop in the upper part of the stomach near the gastroesophageal junction. Maintaining a healthy weight through regular physical activity and balanced nutrition may help reduce the risk of stomach cancer and support overall health.2,3

Previous stomach surgery and other medical conditions

Some people have part of their stomachs removed to treat a variety of non-cancerous issues, like ulcers and benign growths. If you have undergone a partial gastrectomy, you may have an increased risk of developing stomach cancer.

The exact mechanisms are not known, but it may be because you are producing fewer stomach acids. Less stomach acid might make it easier for bacteria to infect the stomach lining. You may also experience more reflux of bile entering the stomach from the small intestine, which can contribute to irritation and damage.

Other medical conditions, including atrophic gastritis, Menetrier disease, and common variable immune deficiency, may also increase stomach cancer risk. Certain immune conditions can make the stomach lining more vulnerable to changes over time.1,2

Environmental and occupational exposures

Exposure to very high levels of radiation and certain workplace exposures can also increase risk. CRUK and NCI both note that some risks are tied to environmental and occupational exposures, although these are less common than H. pylori infection, age, family history, or tobacco use.3,5

Can You Lower Your Risk of Stomach Cancer?

You cannot change every risk factor, but some steps may help lower your overall risk. Quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating more fruits and vegetables, and limiting salted or smoked foods can all support better cancer prevention. If you have a higher risk of stomach cancer, ask your doctor whether H. pylori testing, closer monitoring, or other screening recommendations may be appropriate.2,5,6

What Should You Do If You Have Several Risk Factors?

Having one or more stomach cancer risk factors does not mean you will develop the disease. However, understanding your personal risk of stomach cancer can help you make informed decisions about your health.

If you have a family history of gastric cancer, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, chronic Helicobacter pylori infection, or other factors associated with a higher risk of stomach cancer, speak with your healthcare provider about whether additional evaluation or stomach cancer screening may be appropriate.1,2

For individuals who have been diagnosed with stomach cancer, early evaluation is an important step in understanding stomach cancer stages and available treatment options for stomach cancer and developing a personalized care plan.

Personalized Alternative Cancer Care at ITC

At Immunity Therapy Center (ITC), we understand that every patient’s experience with stomach cancer is unique.

Our physicians develop individualized therapy programs using evidence-informed alternative cancer treatment designed to address stomach cancer while supporting the body’s natural healing processes. Each treatment plan is tailored to the patient’s diagnosis, overall health, and treatment goals.

If you have concerns about your stomach cancer risk, have recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer, or would like to learn more about our personalized treatment programs, schedule a free consultation with our medical team.

 

Sources:

  1. American Cancer Society. What Is Stomach Cancer?https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/stomach-cancer/about/what-is-stomach-cancer.html
  2. American Cancer Society. Stomach Cancer Risk Factors.https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/stomach-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
  3. National Cancer Institute. Stomach Cancer Causes and Risk Factors.https://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach/causes-risk-factors
  4. World Cancer Research Fund. (2024). Stomach cancer protocol (Global Cancer Update Programme). https://www.wcrf.org/research-policy/library/stomach-cancer-protocol/
  5. Cancer Research UK. Stomach cancer risk.https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/stomach-cancer/risk-factors
  6. National Cancer Institute. Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Prevention (PDQ®).https://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach/hp/stomach-prevention-pdq

 

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