Symptoms

Main symptoms of stomach cancer

There are many possible symptoms of stomach cancer, but they might be hard to spot.

They can affect your digestion, such as:

heartburn or acid reflux
having problems swallowing (dysphagia)
feeling or being sick
symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot
feeling full very quickly when eating

Other symptoms include:

loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
a lump at the top of your tummy
pain at the top of your tummy
feeling tired or having no energy
darker than usual poo

If you have another condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, you may get symptoms like these regularly.

You might find you get used to them. But it's important to be checked by a GP if your symptoms change, get worse, or do not feel normal for you.

When and where to get medical help

If you have symptoms of stomach cancer, you should get advice from a health professional.

See a GP if you have:

problems swallowing
a lump in your tummy
weight loss that is not caused by changing your diet or exercise habits
other symptoms of stomach cancer that get worse or do not get better after 3 weeks
a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion that are not getting better after 3 weeks of using your usual treatments

Get advice from 111 now if:

you're being sick (vomiting) for more than 2 days
you have symptoms that you're worried about, but are not sure where to get help

111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.

Go to 111.nhs.uk<&t=/">111.nhs.uk or call 111.

Important

These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions. Having them does not definitely mean you have stomach cancer.

But it's important to get them checked by a GP. This is because if they're caused by cancer, finding it early makes it more treatable.

What happens at the GP appointment

The GP may feel your tummy.

They may ask you to give a poo or pee sample, or have a blood test.

Referral to a specialist

You may get an urgent referral for more tests or to see a specialist in hospital if the GP thinks you have symptoms that could be cancer. This does not definitely mean you have cancer.

Find out more

Seeing your GP when you have symptoms of stomach cancer (Cancer Research UK)

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