In common language, people say cancer of the stomach as if there is just one type of stomach cancer. In fact, there are different types of stomach cancer:
Stomach Adenocarcinoma -you suffer from adenocarcinoma of the stomach when the cancer develops in glands of the gastric mucosa, a group of cells that secrete mucus to protect the lining of your stomach from acidic and other pathogenic substances. Adenocarcinoma is often due to complications from stomach ulcer. Adenocarcinoma of the stomach represents 85 to 95% of cancers of the stomach.
Stomach Lymphoma – lymphomas of the stomach is a rare form of cancer accounting for less than 2% of stomach cancers. It is characterized by malignant proliferation of lymphoid cells in the walls of the stomach. This type of cancer tends to grow rapidly, which makes it very life threatening.
Carcinoid cancer – you have carcinoid of stomach (gastric carcinoid) when the cancer develops in hormone-producing cells of your stomach. Gastric carcinoid is another rare malignant tumor accounts for about 1-2% of all stomach cancers.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) – this form of stomach cancer begins in a group of cells found in your gastrointestinal tract called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) or “pacemakers” of the GI tract. GIST is account for 1-3% of all stomach cancers.