Gastric and oesophageal cancer

Current status: Treatable, not yet curable

Cancers of the stomach and of the oesophagus, the food pipe that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Signs include difficulty swallowing, heartburn or indigestion, feeling full quickly and losing weight without trying. If found early, surgery may remove it, and chemotherapy may be given before or after surgery. If it cannot be cured, treatment aims to limit the cancer and its symptoms. It is more likely if you are a man or older. For oesophageal cancer, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight and long-term, severe acid reflux also raise the risk.

Where research stands todayUpdated 15 Nov 2026

Trial-stage treatments you can join–open now
in United States Studies published in the last 12 months1,224330 in people · 552 in animals · 342 in the lab Support organisations16organisations
in United States2 helplines

Offer tissue or dataGive a sample or your health data to research.Approved treatmentsMedicines approved for gastric and oesophageal cancer around the world.“Miracle cure” fact checkerSaw a cure online? Check it before you pay.

Trial-stage treatments and research studies you can join

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Where treatment stands

Approved: 24

Officially approved for this disease in the EU, the US, Switzerland or France.

Human testing stage: 65

Being tested in people. Many treatments at this stage are never approved.

Animal testing stage: 4

Worked in animals in a study published in the last 12 months. Most treatments at this stage never reach people.

Lab research stage: 2

Worked on cells in the lab in a study published in the last 12 months. Most early ideas never reach people.

Words used here

Placebo: a dummy treatment without the medicine, used for comparison.

Phase 1, 2, 3: the steps of testing in people. Phase 1 checks safety, phase 3 is the last step before approval.

Where this comes from

The EU medicines agency (EMA) and its list of medicines in the EU, US prescribing labels (DailyMed, openFDA), the Swiss medicines register (Swissmedic), the French medicines database (ANSM) and the Health Canada drug database, checked on 11 November 2026. Every medicine links to its own official text.

A computer made this list from the official texts: it kept only medicines whose own approval text names the disease, wrote "Who it is for" from that text and checked it against the text a second time. People have not reviewed it yet.

The EU medicines agency (EMA), ClinicalTrials.gov and the EU trials register, checked on 10 November 2026. Every treatment links to its own records; the texts are written by AI from them.

Medicines approved only in single countries are not included. We did not check in which countries a medicine is sold or paid for. Phase 3 trials are listed from every country; only some phase 2 trials are listed, so 425 other open phase 2 trials are not listed.

Animal and lab research: studies listed in PubMed and published in the 12 months before 12 November 2026, found by a search for stomach and oesophageal cancer. AI chose the treatments from the study summaries and wrote the texts; a second AI checked each one against its study summary. People have not reviewed them yet. Treatments already in the approved or human testing lists are left out. A result in animals or cells does not show that a treatment works in people.

Not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before you change any treatment.

The approval records under a medicine come from Drugs@FDA and the FDA labels (openFDA) and from the EU medicines agency’s medicine data, with its orphan designations, checked on 13 Nov 2026. A date is the medicine’s first approval, for any use; the quoted text is its approved use as written today.

Support organisations

Patient organisations and helplines in United States, for you and your family.

Gastric and oesophageal cancer organisations in United States

National Cancer Institute – Cancer Information Service (CIS)
NCI's contact center: information specialists answer cancer questions from patients, families and the public by phone, chat and email.
cancer.gov
American Cancer Society
Nationwide US nonprofit helping people who face cancer: research, patient services, early detection, treatment information and education, with a cancer helpline on its site.
cancer.org
Cactus Cancer Society
Young adult cancer resource and community: support programs for people diagnosed with cancer as young adults.
cactuscancer.org
Cancer Hope Network
Nonprofit providing free one-on-one support to cancer patients and families by matching them with trained volunteers who have had a similar experience.
cancerhopenetwork.org
Cancer Nation
Survivor-led US cancer advocacy organization (formerly the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship) working on quality cancer care and survivorship resources.
canceradvocacy.org
Debbie's Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer
Patient Pathway guidance, monthly support groups, emotional support, nutrition, clinical-trial and biomarker-testing information.
(954) 475-1200 debbiesdream.org
DeGregorio Family Foundation for Gastric and Esophageal Cancer
Information on stomach and oesophageal cancers, expert treatment videos and patient stories; mainly funds research.
(212) 616-7755 degregorio.org
Esophageal Cancer Action Network (ECAN)
Patient guide on reflux and cancer, support community, nutrition assistant, clinical trials matching, webinars and advocacy.
410-358-3226 ecan.org
Esophageal Cancer Education Foundation (ECEF)
US foundation for esophageal and stomach cancer patients and caregivers, offering free virtual support groups, a hotline, nutrition education and guides.
fightec.org
Gastric Cancer Foundation
Non-profit for people affected by gastric (stomach) cancer, offering patient information, an online community, nutrition resources and research funding.
gastriccancer.org
Hope for Stomach Cancer (Stomach Cancer Awareness Network)
Support groups, mentor program, free Hope In A Bag kit for newly diagnosed, financial assistance info, nutrition and survivorship guides, webinars.
(424) 239-9943 stocan.org
Imerman Angels
Nonprofit offering free one-on-one cancer support and personalized mentoring that connects cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers with someone who has been there.
imermanangels.org
No Stomach For Cancer
One-on-one support, caregiver resources, gastrectomy nutrition and tips, genetic counselling access, global patient communities.
1-608-692-5141 nostomachforcancer.org
Triage Cancer
National nonprofit providing free education on legal and practical issues (insurance, employment, finances) for people with cancer and caregivers.
triagecancer.org

General support in United States

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
US national 24/7 free and confidential lifeline for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, reachable by calling or texting 988 or by chat.
988lifeline.org
MedlinePlus
Free, easy-to-read health information service of the US National Library of Medicine (NIH) on diseases, conditions, drugs and wellness.
medlineplus.gov

International organisations

Patient organisation umbrella bodies

Offer tissue or data

There are three ways to help research move faster.

Give tissue or bloodA biobank stores your sample so many research teams can use it.No open programme yet

Share your health dataA patient registry collects your health data, without your name, for research.How to join

Take part as a healthy volunteerStudies also need people without the disease, for comparison. Family and friends can help.Volunteer

Approved treatments

26 medicines are approved for gastric and oesophageal cancer in at least one of the places we checked. An approval in one place does not mean the medicine is offered or paid for where you live.

Checked on 11 Nov 2026 in the official lists of the US (FDA), the EU (EMA), Japan (PMDA, approvals since April 2004), Switzerland (Swissmedic), France (ANSM, medicines approved in France only) and Taiwan (TFDA). For Canada (Health Canada) and Singapore (HSA) we checked only whether a medicine is sold there, not what for. 8 uncertain matches are left out. Other countries' own approvals were not checked.

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“Cures” others already fact-checked

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About gastric and oesophageal cancer

Sources: NHS, Cancer Research UK, NCI PDQ

What is it?

The stomach is part of the digestive system and helps break down food. The oesophagus, also called the gullet or food pipe, is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Cancer can start anywhere in either of them.

Both are more common in men. Stomach cancer is more likely if you are over 50. Oesophageal cancer is more likely if you are over 75, and it is not very common under 45. The risk of oesophageal cancer is higher with smoking, drinking too much alcohol, being overweight, long-term severe acid reflux and Barrett's oesophagus. For stomach cancer, a history of H. pylori infection, gastritis, pernicious anaemia and having a parent, brother or sister who had stomach cancer also make it more likely.

You can lower your risk by trying to quit smoking, losing weight if you are overweight, eating less salt, eating at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day, drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, and letting hot drinks cool down a bit before drinking them.

The first signs

Possible signs are:

difficulty swallowing, or pain in the throat or the middle of the chest when you swallow;
heartburn, acid reflux or indigestion, and burping;
feeling or being sick;
feeling full very quickly when you eat, or a lump or pain at the top of the tummy;
losing your appetite or losing weight without trying, and feeling tired;
a cough that does not go away, or a hoarse voice;
black or darker than usual poo, or coughing up blood (these are uncommon).

How doctors find out

Your family doctor may feel your tummy and neck and ask for a blood, poo or pee test. The main test is a gastroscopy: a thin, flexible tube with a camera is passed through your mouth to look inside, and a small sample of tissue (biopsy) can be taken. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and a throat spray or sedation can help. Results usually come within 2 weeks. If it is cancer, scans such as ultrasound, CT or PET-CT, or a small keyhole operation to look inside the tummy (laparoscopy), show how big it is and whether it has spread. A clinical nurse specialist becomes your main contact.

Current treatment

Chemotherapy before and after surgery

Will it get worse?

It depends on where the cancer is, how big it is, whether it has spread and your general health, so get symptoms checked early. Oesophageal cancer is often treatable, but it can be difficult to treat. If the cancer cannot be cured, treatment aims to limit the cancer and its symptoms, and help you live longer. You will be referred to a palliative care team. You have regular check-ups during and after treatment.

Medicines: what helps, and what to watch for

You may have chemotherapy before or after surgery, and to help control and improve the symptoms of advanced cancer. It can be combined with radiotherapy (chemoradiotherapy), for example when surgery is not possible. For oesophageal cancer, you might have targeted medicines or immunotherapy if the cancer has spread or cannot be cured, or to lower the risk of it coming back after surgery. Immunotherapy helps your immune system attack the cancer.

Good to know:

Your specialist team explains the benefits and side effects of each treatment;
Your team, including a dietitian, helps with eating problems and changes to your diet;
You have regular check-ups during and after treatment;
Your clinical nurse specialist is your main contact for questions during and after treatment.

Eating well after treatment

Stomach cancer and its treatment can cause problems with eating.

food can pass too quickly into the bowel (dumping syndrome): eat slowly, rest after meals, have fewer sugary foods, add fibre, and avoid soup and very runny foods;

Surgery, for some people

If the cancer is found early, surgery may remove it. For stomach cancer, part or all of the stomach is removed; for oesophageal cancer, part of the oesophagus is removed, and for a small number of people most of it. Recovery from surgery for stomach cancer can take a long time. If stomach cancer cannot be removed, you may have surgery to relieve a blockage and help control some symptoms. Radiotherapy can also help improve the symptoms of advanced cancer.

Is there a cure?

Sometimes. If the cancer is found early, you may be able to have surgery to remove it. If found early, you may be able to have surgery to remove the cancer. You may also have chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. If the cancer cannot be cured, treatment aims to limit the cancer and its symptoms, and help you live longer.

See the 1,478 trials you can join

Median survival

About 14 months with nivolumab and chemo (HER2-negative)

Measured in: Advanced HER2-negative gastric cancer, first treatment: CheckMate-649 (1,581 patients); oesophageal cancer was not checked separately

The figures behind it

Advanced HER2-negative gastric cancer, first treatment: in CheckMate-649 (1,581 patients), median overall survival for all patients, regardless of PD-L1 status, was 14.0 months with nivolumab plus chemotherapy vs 11.3 months with chemotherapy alone, as stated in the NCI PDQ health professional summary (last updated 21 Feb 2025). Oesophageal cancer was not checked separately.

Sources

Written in plain words by Frontlight from these pages: