Most patients with early-stage stomach cancer  have no symptoms of the disease. In other cases, stomach cancer patients may mistake their symptoms for a common stomach virus. When the signs and symptoms of stomach cancer are not apparent, the disease may reach advanced stages before a diagnosis is made. That’s why it is important that patients considered high risk talk to their doctors about symptoms that may be signs of a stomach tumor.

Early signs of stomach cancer may include:

Feeling full: Many stomach cancer patients experience a sense of "fullness" in the upper abdomen after eating small meals.

Heartburn: Indigestion, heartburn or symptoms similar to an ulcer may be signs of a stomach tumor.

Nausea and vomiting: Some stomach cancer patients have symptoms that include nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, the vomit contains blood.

Other common symptoms of cancers that develop in the stomach may include:

Unexplained weight loss: Lack of appetite or unexplained weight loss is a common sign of cancer.

Stomach pain: Abdominal discomfort or pain in the abdomen above the navel may be a symptom of a stomach tumor. Also, swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen may also be caused by stomach cancer.

Next topic: What are the types of stomach cancer?