Symptoms:

• Abdominal fullness or pain
• Dark stools
• Difficulty swallowing, especially if it increases over time
• Excessive belching
• General decline in health
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Premature abdominal fullness after meals
• Vomiting blood
• Weakness or fatigue
• Weight loss (unintentional)

Signs and tests:

Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms may not occur in the early stages of the disease. Or, patients may self-treat symptoms that gastric cancer has in common with other, less serious gastrointestinal disorders (bloating, gas, heartburn, and a sense of fullness).

The following tests can help diagnose gastric cancer:

• Complete blood count (CBC) to check for anemia
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with biopsy
• Stool test to check for blood in the stools
• Upper GI series