Stomach Cancer


The stomach is an important part of the digestive system and consists of five layers - the inner lining, a layer of support tissue, the muscle layer, the support tissue for the outer layer and lastly the outer layer that covers the stomach and holds it in place.

Cancer of the stomach begins in the cells of the stomach when a buildup of extra cells forms of growth or tumor. These tumors can be a) benign or non-cancerous or b) malignant.

Benign tumors can be removed and are rarely a threat to life. Malignant tumors on the other hand may grow back even after being removed and can spread to other parts of the body. Stomach tumors can develop in any of the stomach layers and can spread and affect other organs of the body including pancreas, liver, intestine, and esophagus. Stomach cancer can also spread to the lymphatic system of the body and affect the lymph nodes.

Alternative Names: Other names for gastric cancer are cancer of the stomach, gastric carcinoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma. 
References
  1. Chia-Jung Chiang, Hoda Kadouh, Kequan Zhou, Phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of gooseberry as affected by in vitro digestion, LWT - Food Science and Technology, Volume 51, Issue 2, May 2013, Pages 417-422, ISSN 0023-6438, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2012.11.014.
  2. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0023643812004628)