Stage 4 stomach cancer survival rate by age

ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the number of people who are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year. You will also read general information on surviving the disease. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. Use the menu to see other pages. 

Stomach cancer makes up around 1.5% of all new cancer cases diagnosed annually in the United States. This year, an estimated 26,380 (15,900 men and 10,480 women) in the United States will be diagnosed with stomach cancer. Worldwide, an estimated 1,089,103 people were diagnosed with the disease in 2020. Stomach cancer is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. 

It is estimated that 11,090 deaths (6,690 men and 4,400 women) from this disease will occur in the United States this year. In 2020, an estimated 768,793 people died from stomach cancer worldwide. Globally, it is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths. 

The incidence of stomach cancer varies in different parts of the world. For example, it is very common in East Asia and Eastern Europe. In the United States, incidence rates have dropped by 1.5% annually in the last decade. Part of this decline may be due to the decline in a type of infection called H. pylori (see Risk Factors). When H. pylori is found, it is treated quickly. This decline in incidence and quick treatment for H. Pylori may be a reason why incidence rates are declining in the United States.

The 5-year U.S. survival rate tells you what percent of people live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. The 5-year survival rate for people with stomach cancer is 32%. This statistic reflects the fact that 62% of people with stomach cancer are diagnosed after the cancer has already spread beyond the location it began. If stomach cancer is found before it has spread, the 5-year survival rate is generally higher but depends on the stage of the cancer found during surgery. 

If the cancer is diagnosed and treated before it has spread outside the stomach, the 5-year survival rate is 70%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 32%. If the cancer has spread to a distant part of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 6%. Approximately 36% of people are diagnosed at this late stage. 

It is important to remember that statistics on the survival rates for people with stomach cancer are an estimate. The estimate comes from annual data based on the number of people with this cancer in the United States. Also, experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. This means the estimate may not reflect the results of advancements in how stomach cancer is diagnosed or treated from the last 5 years. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics. 

Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society's (ACS) publication, Cancer Facts & Figures 2022, the ACS website, the International Agency for Research on Cancer website, and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. (All sources accessed January 2022.) 

The next section in this guide is Medical Illustrations. It offers drawings of the body parts often affected by stomach cancer. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.