Cancer statistics: Stomach

Stomach cancer: Incidence

In the UK in 2008, 7,604 cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed.

Of these cancer cases, 4,922 were in men, and 2,682 were in women.

Stomach cancer: Mortality

Stomach cancer is the seventh most common cause of cancer death in the UK. In 2009, there were 5,034 deaths from stomach cancer.

Of these deaths, 3,178 were men and 1,856 were women.

Proportion preventable

Smoking is a risk factor for stomach cancer. But scientists also estimate the following proportion of stomach cancer cases could be prevented in the UK:

Lifestyle factor	Does doing more increase or decrease risk?	Approximate % preventable in UK through healthy changes
Non-starchy vegetables	Decrease	21
Fruits	Decrease	18
Salt	Increase	14
Total		45

The evidence also shows that allium vegetables, such as onions and leeks, probably reduce risk of stomach cancer.

You can find out more about how these preventability estimates were calculated. For detailed information about what change would be needed for each factor, download Appendix A of the Policy Report on the Diet and Cancer Report website.

The figures on incidence and mortality come from the following sources: for England (incidence); for Wales (incidence); for England and Wales (mortality); for Scotland; and for Northern Ireland.