Stomach cancer symptoms
The symptoms of stomach cancer can be quite vague. Symptoms can include
Indigestion, acidity and burping
Feeling full
Pain
Feeling or being sick
Difficulty in swallowing
Bleeding or tiredness and breathlessness because you have lost blood
Blood clots
Weight loss (usually a symptom of a more advanced cancer)
Indigestion and burping
The earliest symptoms are often acidity and burping. Many people diagnosed with stomach cancer have had symptoms like these for years. But these are symptoms of other stomach problems too. Most people who have chronic indigestion and wind never develop cancer. About 1 in every 50 people going to the doctor for the first time with indigestion and burping will have stomach cancer.
Feeling full
Another early symptom can be feeling full up sooner when eating your meals. If this leads to eating less over a period of time, you will start to lose weight.
Pain, sickness and difficulty swallowing
These are common symptoms. More than half of those diagnosed with stomach cancer have either pain, sickness or some difficulty swallowing. You may feel sick or actually be sick. The exact site of the pain can vary. It is most usually in the upper abdomen. Or you may have pain just under your breastbone (sternum) or slightly lower down.
Bleeding
Even early stomach cancers can bleed. Bleeding over a period of time can make you anaemic. This means your red blood cell count is too low. Anaemia will make you look pale and feel tired. If you are very anaemic you may feel breathless. Vomiting blood is not a common early symptom, but it can happen. If it does, the blood may not be clearly seen. The blood you bring up may be bright red, which means it is fresh bleeding. Or it may look like used coffee grounds because the blood has been in the stomach for a while.
Blood clots
People with stomach cancer are more likely to get blood clots. If you have pain or swelling in a leg, or sudden chest pain and breathlessness, you could have a blood clot in your leg or lung. You should contact your doctor straight away because you will need immediate anti-clotting medication.
Advanced stomach cancer
Symptoms of a more advanced stomach cancer can include
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Fluid in the abdomen
Blood in the stool
Anaemia
Losing your appetite and losing weight are often later symptoms and can be a sign that the cancer is more advanced. (Although some people with early stomach cancer lose their appetite too).
With an advanced cancer it may be possible for your doctor to feel a lump in your tummy (abdomen). Some people with advanced stomach cancer develop fluid in the abdomen. This is called ascites.
Some stomach cancers bleed but don't cause you to vomit. The blood goes through your digestive system. This can cause your bowel movements to look black, like tar.
Copyright Cancer Research UK 2002
Cancer Research UK Charity Number 1089464
Stomach cancer symptoms
