It is important to note that the chances are far greater that you will have a peptic ulcer if you are showing any of these symptoms, so do not be too alarmed!
Of course if your ulcers are already at an advanced stage, then you will need further medical advice to see if you are at risk.

Only a doctor will be able to give you a proper diagnosis. The diagnosis methods for stomach cancer are very similar to the methods used for diagnosing peptic ulcers.

Stomach cancer can be caused by a number of factors that damage the DNA in your stomach cells. When the DNA is damaged, healthy cells can grow out of control and form a tumor (a mass of malignant cells). These factors include:

• H. pylori infection – 75% of the world’s population is infected with a bacterium called  Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) that lives deep in the mucous layer which coats the lining of your stomach. It is the primary cause of stomach ulcers, accounting for at least 80 percent of all cases. And the World Health Organization have indicated that close to 50% of the annual new cases of stomach cancer can also be attributed to H. pylori infection.
• Nitrates and nitrites- these chemicals are added to certain foods, such as processed or cured meats such as ham and bacon, sausages and other cold meats you normally find down at the deli. Nitrates and nitrites combine with other substances in your stomach to form carcinogens, which are known to cause stomach cancer.
• Salted, smoked or pickled foods and red meat – in countries where consumption of salted meat and fish and pickled vegetables is high, the corresponding rates of stomach cancer are also high. Consuming high levels of red meat, especially when the meat is barbecued or well done, has also been linked to stomach cancer.
• Tobacco and alcohol use – Both can irritate the stomach lining and are especially likely to cause cancer in the upper stomach area.
• Low income groups – children and adults from low income groups are more likely to develop stomach cancer than are those in higher income groups. This is due to a number of reasons. The main problem is in poor countries with poor sanitation and unhygienic living conditions where H. pylori spreads quite quickly.

Most stomach cancers start in the glandular cells in the mucous layer which coats the lining of your stomach, and are called adenocarcinomas.

There are 2 types of adenocarcinomas;

• Type 1 occurs in the lower stomach, close to your small intestine known as the duodenum. Type 1 is usually a result of a chronic infection with H. pylori bacterium, or a bad diet, or a combination of both.
• Type 2 occurs throughout your stomach and is more than likely a result of genetic factors. Type 2 is aggressive and is more likely to spread than type 1. Type 2 can spread through the stomach wall to your lymph nodes, and will eventually spread to your pancreas, liver and colon.

Although most stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, there are other forms of the disease, including:

• Lymphomas – these are usually caused by an infection of H. pylori and can be cured if detected early enough.
• Carcinoid tumors – these account for a very small percentage of stomach cancers. Carcinoid tumors start in the hormone-producing cells in your stomach – they grow very slowly and do not spread to other parts of the body as frequently as the more common stomach cancers do.
• GIST’s (or gastrointestinal stromal tumors) – also account for a very small percentage of stomach cancers. They can be found anywhere in the digestive tract, but most are found in the stomach. GIST’s are not the same as other types of gastric cancers. They originate from different cells and require different treatment. GIST’s can be fatal in a short time because they spread through your body very quickly.

The primary goal of any effective treatment is to remove the cancer. Choosing a treatment plan is a major decision, and it’s important to spend some time researching all the options to make sure the treatment you select is right for you. It is always worthwhile getting a second opinion if you are unsure.
Treatment options include the following:

• Surgery – this is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. It may involve removing part or all of your stomach and possibly some of the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes as well. After a part of your stomach has been removed, the remaining part of your stomach is connected to your esophagus and your small intestine. If your whole stomach is removed, your esophagus will be attached directly to your small intestine.
• Chemotherapy – drugs used to help kill cancer cells are taken orally or intravenously. Sometimes it may be the only treatment needed, but most often doctors use chemotherapy in conjunction with other therapies, like radiation. The problem is that these drugs affect both healthy cells and cancerous cells. The result is a range of very unpleasant side effects such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and because of a shortage of white blood cells there is an increased risk of infection.
• Radiation therapy – high-energy X-rays can be aimed to at cancer cells in this treatment. The upside of this is that the radiation affects only those parts of your body which the radiation beam passes through. Even though doctors take care to aim the beam in a way that least affects you, it is important to note that any tissue, even healthy tissue which is touched by radiation, can be damaged. Side effects may include a burn on your skin from the radiation, as well as nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
• Clinical trials – if you are at an advanced stage, you may be offered participation in a clinical trial. You must remember that the treatments used in clinical trials are experimental and have no recorded success rates. You could experience unexpected side effects, and there will be no guarantees offered.

The primary goal of any effective treatment is to remove the cancer. Choosing a treatment plan is a major decision, and it’s important to spend some time researching all the options to make sure the treatment you select is right for you. It is always worthwhile getting a second opinion if you are unsure.
Treatment options include the following:

• Surgery – this is the most common treatment for stomach cancer. It may involve removing part or all of your stomach and possibly some of the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes as well. After a part of your stomach has been removed, the remaining part of your stomach is connected to your esophagus and your small intestine. If your whole stomach is removed, your esophagus will be attached directly to your small intestine.
• Chemotherapy – drugs used to help kill cancer cells are taken orally or intravenously. Sometimes it may be the only treatment needed, but most often doctors use chemotherapy in conjunction with other therapies, like radiation. The problem is that these drugs affect both healthy cells and cancerous cells. The result is a range of very unpleasant side effects such as nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and because of a shortage of white blood cells there is an increased risk of infection.
• Radiation therapy – high-energy X-rays can be aimed to at cancer cells in this treatment. The upside of this is that the radiation affects only those parts of your body which the radiation beam passes through. Even though doctors take care to aim the beam in a way that least affects you, it is important to note that any tissue, even healthy tissue which is touched by radiation, can be damaged. Side effects may include a burn on your skin from the radiation, as well as nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
• Clinical trials – if you are at an advanced stage, you may be offered participation in a clinical trial. You must remember that the treatments used in clinical trials are experimental and have no recorded success rates. You could experience unexpected side effects, and there will be no guarantees offered.