Useful terms

A rare condition where adrenal glands do not produce enough hormones, Addison’s disease can be linked to autoimmune stomach issues and inflammation.

Cancer that starts in glandular cells, the most common type of stomach cancer.

A condition where there are too few healthy red blood cells, causing tiredness, breathlessness and weakness.

The process by which a tumour creates new blood vessels to get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow.

The front part of the stomach that is facing your belly button.

The lower part of the stomach, which grinds and pushes food downwards towards the exit of the stomach.

A buildup of fluid in the abdomen, often caused by cancer spread or liver problems.

Thinning or loss of the stomach lining, which reduces the production of acid and enzymes over time.

A test where a small sample of tissue is taken to be examined under a microscope for signs of disease.

The largest, central region of the stomach where food is churned with acid to digest food.

A substance which increases the risk of cancer developing after exposure to it.

The uppermost part of the stomach, just below the gastro-oesophageal junction, where swallowed food first lands.

A smooth paste of partially digested food mixed with stomach acid that moves into the small intestine for digestion

A procedure using a flexible camera to examine the colon and rectum for inflammation, polyps or cancer.

The largest central area of the stomach, where food is churned and digested.

A sequence of changes in the stomach lining from inflammation, intestinal metaplasia, atrophy, dysplasia, to cancer, which describes how intestinal subtype stomach cancer can start.

An aggressive lymphoma that can start in the stomach and usually needs chemotherapy instead of antibiotic treatment.

A subtype of stomach cancer where cancer cells infiltrate the stomach wall without developing a central, visible mass or tumour.

The genetic material inside cells that carries instructions that determine how the body develops and works.

A group of symptoms including indigestion, bloating or discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating.

Abnormal cell changes in the stomach lining, which is not cancer, but can lead to it.

Feeling full sooner than expected when eating, sometimes due to stomach conditions related to the ability of the stomach to stretch.

A procedure using a thin camera tube to look inside the digestive tract and take biopsies if needed. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are both endoscopic procedures.

A common virus, known as glandular fever or mono which can rarely infect the stomach and can lead to stomach cancer.

The rounded upper part of the stomach that stores gases and food during digestion.

The lower exit of the stomach, where food leaves the pylorus and enters the intestines.

Inflammation of the stomach lining, which can cause discomfort, nausea or indigestion. Chronic inflammation can rarely lead to stomach cancer.

The point where the oesophagus joins the stomach, marked by a thick muscular ring called the lower oesophageal sphincter.

A long-term condition where stomach acid repeatedly flows upwards, causing heartburn and irritation in the junction and oesophagus.

A rare digestive tumour which starts in the interstitial cells of Cajal, which are found in the soft tissues of the stomach wall.

A procedure using a thin camera tube to look at the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum to diagnose and take biopsies.

Inherited units of inherited information that tell cells how to function, grow and repair themselves.

An inherited genetic change that is present from birth and found in every cell of the body. This type of change can be passed down to children.

A hormone made in the stomach which signals hunger and helps regulate your appetite and digestion.

A common stomach bacterium that can cause inflammation, ulcers and increase the long-term risk of stomach cancer.

When part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm opening, contributing to reflux symptoms.

Treatments which boost the immune system’s ability to recognise and attack cancer cells more effectively. Examples include Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab and Durvalumab.

Changes in the stomach lining, where the cells start to resemble intestinal cells, which increases the long-term cancer risk.

A subtype of stomach cancer which is often linked to inflammation, H. Pylori and where stomach cancer cells more resemble intestinal cells.

A protein produced by cells in the stomach lining, which is necessary for the body to absorb vitamin B12.

Yellowing of the skin and eye whites caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood due to bile tract or liver issues.

A ring of muscle at the junction between the oesophagus and stomach that helps stop food and acid moving back up the oesophagus.

Part of the lymphatic system, located along lymphatic vessels, they filter lymph fluid. They are also known as glands.

Cancer that spreads through the lymphatic system, which allows cells to move into nearby lymph nodes.

Cancer of the lymphatic system. Occasionally, it can begin in the stomach.

Part of the TNM staging system, the M stage describes whether cancer has spread to distant organs, tissues or nodes.

Mucosa-Associated-Lymphoid-Tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a slow growing lymphoma that starts in the stomach. It is often linked to H. pylori and this cancer is sometimes treatable with antibiotics.

Cancer that has spread from the stomach to another part of the body through blood or lymph.

The community of bacteria and other microbes living in the body, especially in the gut, which influences many things including the immune system and cancer development.

A risk factor you can change through behaviour, lifestyle or treatment. Examples include smoking, diet or alcohol use.

The inner lining of the stomach, which contains cells that produce stomach acid, hormones and digestive enzymes.

The muscular layer of the stomach wall that contracts and squeezes to churn and digest food.

A change in DNA that alters how a cell behaves, sometimes contributing to cancer development.

Part of the TNM staging system, the N stage describes whether cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and how many.

A fast-growing cancer that starts in the hormone-producing, neuroendocrine cells.

A usually slow-growing tumour that start in hormone-producing cells. These tumours can sometimes start in the stomach.

A risk factor you cannot change, including age, genetics, family history or place of birth.

The muscular tube that carries food and drink from your throat down into your stomach (foodpipe).

Cancer that grows on the lining of the sac surrounding the organs, or upon the surface of other organs.

A thin, protective lining inside your abdomen that covers abdominal organs and allows them to move smoothly.

A condition where the lack of the protein Intrinsic Factor leads to poor vitamin B12 absorption, which leads to low haemoglobin in red blood cells and anaemia.

The back part of the stomach, which is nearest your spine.

A group of immune disorders where the body makes too few antibodies, increasing the risk of infections and stomach inflammation.

The proximal stomach is the top part of the stomach – the cardia and fundus zones.

The narrow, lowest section of the stomach, which squeezes and pushes partially digested food into the intestine.

When stomach acid or stomach contents move upwards into the oesophagus, causing burning (heartburn) or discomfort.

A cancer that starts in connective tissues like muscle or fat. These only very rarely begin in the stomach.

The tough, thin outermost layer of the stomach wall, which protects and contains the stomach.

A genetic change that happens in a single cell during someone’s lifetime. They are not inherited or passed to children.

The second layer of the stomach wall, beneath the mucosa, contains blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue.

A connective layer of the stomach wall which lies between the muscular layer and the outermost layer.

Lymph nodes just above the collarbone. The node on the left hand side is also known as Virchow’s node and it can be a sign of advanced stomach cancer.

Part of the TNM staging system, the T stage describes how deeply a tumour has grown into the stomach wall.

Cancer that spreads directly from the stomach to the peritoneum, without travelling through blood vessels or the lymphatic system.

A lymph node located on the left-hand side of the neck, just above the collarbone. Also known as the left supraclavicular node.

An essential vitamin needed for red blood cells and nerves, which is absorbed in the intestine with Intrinsic Factor.