Stomach cancer is frequently enough overshadowed by more widely discussed cancers, yet it remains a serious disease that affects thousands of people each year. While overall rates of stomach cancer have declined over time,awareness remains critical. This disease is frequently enough diagnosed late adn shares key risk factors with othre cancers,including lung cancer.
“rates of stomach cancer have declined over time, reflecting progress in prevention and awareness,” says pramil Singh, DrPH, director of the Transdisciplinary Tobacco Research Program at Loma linda University Cancer Center. “However, a recent rise in early-onset stomach cancer among adults under 50 years old remains a concern.”
Why stomach cancer is often missed
One of the greatest challenges with stomach cancer is that early symptoms are often vague or mistaken for common digestive issues. Persistent indigestion, bloating, nausea, stomach pain, or unexplained weight loss may be early warning signs, but many people delay seeking care until symptoms become severe.
As a result, stomach cancer is frequently diagnosed at later stages, when treatment options may be more limited.This makes awareness both among patients and healthcare providers especially critically important.
Smoking is a well-established risk factor for lung cancer, but fewer people realize it also increases the risk of stomach cancer.
“Smoking exposes the body to carcinogens that don’t stop at the lungs,” Singh explains. “Those same toxins can damage the stomach lining over time, increasing the risk of stomach cancer as well.”
Research has shown that people who smoke are significantly more likely to develop stomach cancer than non-smokers.
Who is at higher risk?
Keep reading