Stomach tumor affects stomach, its outer layer and nearby parts such as pancreas and intestine. Cancerous cells can reach liver, lungs and other organs through blood.

- Risk Factor:
People above 75 years of age are more likely to get stomach cancer. Men are more prone to stomach cancer than women. Eating pickled, oily and salty food increases your risk of developing stomach cancer. On the other hand, eating fresh fruits and vegetables may protect against this disease.

Smokers are more likely to develop stomach cancer than non-smokers. Some families have history of a type of stomach cancer.

- Symptoms:
Discomfort could be felt in stomach. Patient may feel bloated even after a small meal. Some people may lose weight also. They may also suffer from nausea and vomiting.

- Diagnosis:
Stomach cancer can be diagnosed through physical exam, endoscopy and biopsy. Your abdomen is checked for any kind of swelling or other changes in the abdomen during the physical exam. In Endoscopy, endoscope is used to ascertain the presence of cancerous cells in the stomach.

In biopsy, a sample of the tissue is removed and checked under microscope for cancerous cells.

- Treatment:
Stomach cancer can be treated through:

1. Local therapy: Surgery and radiation therapies are considered local therapies. These therapies kill cancerous cells in the stomach. If cancerous cells have spread to other organs, local therapies can control disease and prevent it from spreading further.

Stomach cancer surgery can be classified into Partial gastrectomy and total gastrectomy. In partial gastrectomy, only the affected part of the stomach is removed whereas total gastrectomy involves removal of stomach and lymph nodes surrounding it

Tissue taken out from the small intestine is used to make a new "stomach". During surgery, a feeding tube is placed in the small intestine for food.

2. Systemic therapy or Chemotherapy: In this therapy, cancerous cells are destroyed throughout the body by administering drugs into the blood. Chemotherapy is generally taken after the surgery that ensures destruction of remaining cancerous cells. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can be given in combination.