Query: How rare is stomach cancer?
Stomach cancer, also known as gastric cancer, is a relatively rare type of cancer that affects the stomach lining. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), stomach cancer is the 15th most common cancer in the United States and accounts for 1.4% of all new cancer cases in the US. It is estimated that approximately 26,370 people in the US were diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2018.
When compared to other cancers, stomach cancer is far less common. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2018, 1.7 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States. Of those, only 26,370 were cases of stomach cancer, meaning that only 1.6% of all new cancer cases in 2018 were stomach cancer. In comparison, breast cancer was the most common cancer in the US in 2018, with an estimated 266,120 new cases.
Stomach cancer is more common in certain parts of the world. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), stomach cancer is the second most common cancer in Japan, accounting for 16% of all new cancer cases in that country. In other parts of the world, such as the United States, stomach cancer is much less common.
While stomach cancer is rare compared to other cancers, it is still a serious disease that can have a devastating impact. The 5-year survival rate for stomach cancer is only 28%, meaning that only 28% of people who are diagnosed with stomach cancer are still alive 5 years later. This is lower than the 5-year survival rate of many other cancers, such as breast cancer, which has a 5-year survival rate of 90%.
In conclusion, stomach cancer is relatively rare when compared to other types of cancer. However, it is still a serious and potentially deadly disease that can have a devastating impact on those affected by it.