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Personalised treatments designed to fight cancer while minimising side effects.
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, begins when malignant (cancerous) cells form in the inner lining of the stomach. Over time, these cells can grow into a tumour and spread deeper into the stomach wall and to nearby organs. Most stomach cancers develop from the glandular cells of the stomach lining, and are called adenocarcinomas.
According to GLOBOCAN 2020, stomach cancer is among the top 15 most common cancers in Malaysia, with an estimated 1,546 new cases and 1,169 deaths each year. It is more commonly diagnosed in men compared to women, and often detected at advanced stages due to its vague and non-specific symptoms.
Early stages of stomach cancer may not cause clear symptoms, which makes detection difficult. As the disease progresses, patients may experience:
Unlike breast or colorectal cancer, there is currently no national screening programme for stomach cancer in Malaysia. However, early detection is possible through gastroscopy (endoscopy), particularly for people at higher risk, such as those with:
For high-risk individuals, regular monitoring and early medical consultation are recommended. Detecting stomach cancer early offers the best chance for successful treatment.
A thin tube with a camera is inserted through the mouth to view the stomach lining and take biopsies
Tissue samples are examined under a microscope to confirm cancer
CT scans, PET scans, and ultrasounds help assess the extent of the disease
To check overall health and detect tumour markers
Several factors increase the risk of developing stomach cancer:
The main type is adenocarcinoma, which makes up more than 90% of cases. Other rarer types include:
Cancer of the immune system cells in the stomach wall
Cancers of the connective tissue
Slow-growing cancers arising from hormone-producing cells
Staging describes how far the cancer has spread:
Cancer is limited to the stomach lining or wall
Cancer has grown deeper into the stomach wall and may involve nearby lymph nodes
Cancer has spread to distant organs (such as the liver, lungs, or bones)
Treatment depends on the stage, type, and overall health of the patient. At OncoCare Malaysia, options include:
At OncoCare Malaysia, our multidisciplinary team brings together oncologists specialising in stomach and gastrointestinal cancers, upper GI surgeons skilled in minimally invasive procedures, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists, supported by oncology nurses, dietitians, psycho-oncology counsellors and physiotherapists — working together to deliver comprehensive, personalised care for every patient.
