Around 900 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer in Switzerland every year. However the prevalence of stomach cancer is declining, which is probably due to changes in lifestyle and dietary habits. This type of cancer occurs predominantly in old age. Men are affected by it more often than women.

The stomach is an important part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is where digestion begins – food is mixed with gastric juices and becomes liquid. In the process, the acidic gastric juices kill almost all the bacteria in the food. Stomach cancer (stomach carcinoma) develops in the mucosal cells of the stomach.