Stomach & Esophageal Cancer

Cancers of the stomach and esophagus can cause similar symptoms. Contact our gastroenterologists for testing if you have any of the symptoms below.

Symptoms of stomach cancer may include any of the following:

• Anemia – lack of red blood cells
• Bloating after meals
• Blood in the stool
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
• Dysphagia – sensation of food getting stuck in the throat
• Indigestion or heartburn – backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Swelling or fluid buildup in the abdomen 
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting blood
• Weakness and fatigue

Esophageal cancer symptoms may include any of the following:

• Chest pain
• Choking on food
• Chronic cough
• Dark or black stool
• Dysphagia
• Fatigue
• Hiccups and vomiting
• Hoarseness
• Problems swallowing food or liquids
• Unintended weight loss 

A cancer cell’s origin point determines each type of stomach or esophageal cancer.

Stomach cancer types can include:

• Adenocarcinoma – starts in cells that produce mucus and is the most common stomach cancer
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) – starts in nerve cells found in GI tract walls
• Carcinoid tumors – starts in neuroendocrine (nervous and endocrine system) cells
• Lymphoma – starts in immune system cells

Esophageal cancer types can include:

• Squamous cell carcinoma (epidermoid carcinoma) – starts in esophageal skin cells
• Adenocarcinoma – starts in esophageal cells that make and release mucus and other fluids

Your doctor will choose a diagnostic procedure based on a discussion of your symptoms:

• Upper endoscopy – assesses interior surfaces of the esophagus and stomach by inserting an endoscope (camera and light attached to a thin tube) into the body. The instrument provides images for visual inspection, can take biopsies (tissue samples) and retrieve foreign objects.
• Barium swallow – patients drink a white liquid (barium) that radiologists see in an X-ray and use to trace the pathway from the esophagus into the stomach. Patients may choose to swallow a barium pill to see if it passes.
• Fecal occult blood test – examines a small sample of stool for the presence of blood

If diagnosed, we move to staging where follow-up tests determine cancer spread within the esophagus or other parts of the body. We may use imaging tests, including bronchoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound, during this process to guide treatment choices. 

Depending on the type and stage of stomach cancer, as well as any specific features, your doctor may use one or more of the following treatment options:

• Radiation – high-energy rays destroy cancer cells
• Chemotherapy – medication, taken orally or intravenously, to stop the growth of cancer cells
• Partial gastrectomy – isolates and removes the affected part of the stomach along with the first part of the small intestine and nearby lymph nodes, if necessary
• Total gastrectomy – removes the entire stomach, connects the esophagus to the small intestine, and removes nearby lymph nodes, the spleen and parts of the esophagus and small intestine, if necessary

Depending on your specific esophageal cancer, your doctor may use one or more of the following treatment options:

• Surgery – removes the tumor and, if necessary, part of the esophagus
• Radiation – high-energy rays destroy cancer cells
• Chemotherapy – medication, taken orally or intravenously, to stop the growth of cancer cells
• Chemoradiation – chemotherapy and radiation therapy combine to maximize effect of both
• Targeted therapy – medication targets specific cancer markers, such as excessive HER2 protein
• Immunotherapy – patient’s immune system or lab-created substances attack cancer cells
• Laser therapy – a laser beam kills cancer cells
• Electrocoagulation – an electric current strikes cancer cells