Stomach (Gastric) Cancer, from the CureRays guide library.

Stomach cancer begins in the lining of the stomach; caught early it is highly curable, and combined treatment — including radiation — improves cure rates for more advanced disease.

What it is.

The stomach is a muscular pouch that holds food and begins digestion. Stomach (gastric) cancer usually starts in the cells of its inner lining and grows slowly over years, often causing few symptoms at first — which is why it is frequently found later than other cancers. Long-term inflammation from Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, and certain diets raise the risk. When found early, especially through endoscopy, stomach cancer can often be cured; for more advanced disease, combining surgery with chemotherapy and sometimes radiation gives the best chance.

How radiation treats it.

Radiation uses focused high-energy x-rays to damage the DNA of cancer cells so they cannot keep dividing, while healthy cells nearby recover more easily. For stomach cancer, advanced planning and daily imaging shape the beams around the stomach bed and lymph nodes while sparing the kidneys, liver, and bowel. Treatments are painless and take only minutes, usually over about five weeks when combined with chemotherapy. Side effects such as nausea, fatigue, or appetite changes are managed with medication and usually improve after treatment ends.

The ways we can treat it.

Chemoradiation (IMRT/IGRT). Shapes radiation to the stomach-bed and lymph-node area while chemotherapy makes the cancer more sensitive — used after surgery in selected patients to lower the chance of return.

Neoadjuvant radiation. In some junction tumors, radiation with chemotherapy before surgery shrinks the cancer and improves the odds of a complete removal.

Palliative radiation. A few targeted treatments can stop tumor bleeding, relieve a blockage, or ease pain when cancer is advanced.

Questions we hear often.

Will I be able to eat normally after treatment? Most people adjust well. If part or all of the stomach is removed, you'll eat smaller, more frequent meals, and a dietitian helps you adapt. Many return to a comfortable, varied diet over time.

Is radiation always needed for stomach cancer? No. Surgery and chemotherapy are the backbone of cure; radiation is added in selected situations — such as certain higher-risk cases after surgery, junction tumors, or to relieve symptoms.

Can H. pylori cause stomach cancer? Long-term infection with this common bacterium is a leading risk factor. Testing for and treating it, when found, lowers risk — ask your doctor if you should be checked.

This guide is informational only. It is not medical advice — please confirm anything here with your care team.