Gastric cancer is a common cancer of the digestive tract. It occurs most frequently in men over 40 years old. The incidence of gastric cancer is extremely high in Japan, Chile, and Iceland. The incidence of some types of stomach cancer in the USA has declined over the years. Experts propose that the decreased incidence may be related to decreased intake of salted, cured and smoked foods, and the increase of Vitamin C intake.

However the incidence of cancer in the proximal parts of the stomach (the gastric cardia and gastroesophageal junction) has increased markedly.

Diagnosis is often delayed by the absence of symptoms in early disease or by self treatment of symptoms.

Risk factors for gastric cancer are family history of gastric cancer, Helicobacter pylori infection, blood type group A, history of pernicious anemia, history of chronic atrophic gastritis, condition of decreased gastric acid, history of adenomatous gastric polyp, and partial gastrectomy. The incidence is approximately 7 out of 100,000 people in the United States.

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