A doctor explaining a digestive system leaflet to a woman in a clinic

Kanser Perut (Stomach Cancer): Tanda Awal, Punca & Rawatan

十月 24, 2026 Drann Editorial Team

Kanser perut (stomach cancer) is the 6th most common cancer in Malaysia, with an estimated 2,170 new cases in 2024. Early signs are easy to mistake for gastrik: indigestion, heartburn, feeling full quickly, nausea and pain at the top of the tummy. See a doctor if these symptoms last more than 3 weeks despite your usual treatment, or if you have problems swallowing, weight loss without trying or a lump in your tummy; vomiting blood or black poo needs urgent help. Risk is higher with long-term H. pylori infection, smoking, a family history and a diet high in salted or preserved foods. A camera test (gastroscopy) is the main way to diagnose it, and cancer found early can often be cured with surgery. This guide explains the signs, causes, tests and treatment.

Apa itu kanser perut?

Stomach cancer is cancer found anywhere in the stomach (NHS). MedlinePlus says the most common type is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the cells lining the stomach. It is diagnosed much more often in eastern Asia, parts of South America and eastern and central Europe than in the US.

According to GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Malaysia had:

2,170 new cases of stomach cancer in 2024, making it the 6th most common cancer;
1,773 deaths, making it the 5th most common cause of cancer death.

A Malaysian review describes the number of deaths compared with new cases as relatively high, and found that late diagnosis is still common (see kanser perut di Malaysia below).

Tanda awal kanser perut (signs and symptoms)

The NHS says there are many possible symptoms of stomach cancer, but they might be hard to spot. They can affect your digestion:

heartburn or acid reflux;
problems swallowing (dysphagia);
feeling or being sick;
symptoms of indigestion, such as burping a lot;
feeling full very quickly when eating.

Other symptoms include:

loss of appetite or losing weight without trying;
a lump or pain at the top of your tummy;
feeling tired or having no energy;
darker than usual poo.

MedlinePlus adds that stomach cancer can cause vomiting blood, difficulty swallowing that gets worse over time, and a general decline in health. A blood test may show anaemia, which can cause tiredness; see our guide to kurang darah.

A rare skin sign: the American Academy of Dermatology says that dark, velvety skin patches (acanthosis nigricans) that develop quickly can be a sign of cancer, especially in the stomach, colon or liver (see also our guide to kanser hati). MedlinePlus says acanthosis nigricans usually appears slowly and is often linked to insulin resistance in diabetes and obesity; see our guide to ketiak hitam.

Important: the NHS stresses that these symptoms are very common and can be caused by many different conditions. Having them does not mean you have stomach cancer, but they should be checked, because cancer found early is more treatable.

Kanser perut atau gastrik? When indigestion needs checking

Many people treat these symptoms as gastrik for months. MedlinePlus explains that the diagnosis of stomach cancer is often delayed because there may be no symptoms in the early stages, and many symptoms do not point specifically to the stomach, so people self-treat symptoms such as bloating, gas, heartburn and fullness.

If you have gastritis, acid reflux or another digestive condition, you may get these symptoms regularly and get used to them. The NHS advises seeing a doctor if your symptoms change, get worse or do not feel normal for you.

See a doctor if you have (NHS):

indigestion, reflux or other digestive symptoms that have not got better after 3 weeks of your usual treatment;
problems swallowing;
a lump in your tummy;
weight loss that is not caused by changes to your diet or exercise;
vomiting for more than 2 days.

Get urgent help if your poo is black or dark red (NHS). The NHS says you should always get medical help if you are vomiting blood; vomit may be bright red, brown or black, or look like coffee granules. Common causes include gastritis and stomach ulcers, and stomach cancer is a less common cause.

Our guides to gastrik and ulser perut explain everyday stomach problems and their treatment.

Tanda kanser usus dan perut: what is the difference?

People often search tanda kanser usus dan perut together. Both can cause tummy pain, a lump in the tummy, weight loss and tiredness from anaemia, but the NHS lists different main symptoms:

	Stomach cancer	Bowel (colorectal) cancer
Main symptoms	Indigestion, heartburn, feeling full quickly, problems swallowing, feeling sick, pain at the top of the tummy	Changes in your poo (softer, diarrhoea or constipation), pooing more or less often, often feeling you need to poo
Bleeding	Darker than usual poo; vomiting blood (MedlinePlus)	Blood in your poo, which may look red or black, or bleeding from your bottom
Shared symptoms	Weight loss, tiredness, a lump in the tummy	Weight loss, tiredness or breathlessness from anaemia, a lump in the tummy, bloating

Black or dark red poo needs an urgent appointment either way. Our guide to kanser usus covers bowel cancer, which is the 2nd most common cancer in Malaysia.

Punca dan faktor risiko kanser perut

Anyone can get stomach cancer, and it is not always clear what causes it. The NHS says you might be more likely to get it if you:

are over 50;
are a man;
have had an H. pylori infection;
have certain stomach conditions, such as long-term severe acid reflux, gastritis or pernicious anaemia (an immune condition that stops the body absorbing vitamin B12);
have a parent, brother or sister who has had stomach cancer.

The US National Cancer Institute (NCI) and MedlinePlus add:

diet: a diet low in fruit and vegetables or high in salted, smoked or poorly preserved foods;
smoking, which also makes H. pylori treatment less effective;
obesity and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which raise the risk of cancer in the upper part of the stomach;
long-term thinning of the stomach lining (chronic atrophic gastritis), a stomach polyp larger than 2 cm, Epstein-Barr virus infection and some inherited conditions;
working in the rubber or coal industry.

About H. pylori: the NCI says long-term H. pylori infection of the stomach lining is a major risk factor. It spreads from person to person through saliva, vomit or stool. Many people with it have no symptoms, but some develop stomach ulcers or long-term inflammation that can, over many years, lead to cancer. Treating H. pylori lowers the risk of these types of stomach cancer. The NHS says H. pylori can be found with a breath, stool or blood test, and treated with antibiotics and acid-reducing medicine.

Having a risk factor does not mean you will get stomach cancer, and some people with no known risk factors do (NCI).

Kanser perut di Malaysia

Stomach cancer risk differs between communities in Malaysia:

A University of Malaya review reported that more than 50% of Malaysian Indians and 40% to 50% of Malaysian Chinese have H. pylori, compared with about 10% to 20% of Malays (Goh, 2018).
The same review notes that Malaysian Chinese have a stomach cancer rate of more than 20 per 100,000 people a year, while Malaysian Indians have a rate below 10 per 100,000 despite high H. pylori rates. Researchers call this the "Indian enigma", and differences in bacterial strains and diet may play a part.
A review of Malaysian research found that stomach cancer rates fell by 48% in men and 31% in women over a 13-year reporting period. It linked higher risk with a high intake of salted fish and salted vegetables, H. pylori and smoking, and found fresh fruit and vegetables to be protective (Lim and Palayan, 2019).
The same review reported that late presentation is still common. Only about 3% of patients had early stomach cancer in the 1980s, while leading centres have more recently reported up to 27% of patients diagnosed at stage 1 or 2.

Cara mengurangkan risiko

You cannot change your age or family history, but the NHS suggests you can lower your risk if you:

stop smoking;
lose weight if you are overweight;
cut down on salt, including salted and preserved foods such as ikan masin and jeruk;
cut down on alcohol;
eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day;
wear protective clothing and masks if your job exposes you to harmful chemicals, such as in the rubber industry.

MedlinePlus also advises taking medicine for reflux disease if you have it, and taking antibiotics if you are diagnosed with H. pylori. If a close family member has had stomach cancer, tell your doctor, who can advise whether you need earlier tests.

Ujian: gastroscopy and biopsy

A doctor may feel your tummy and ask for blood, stool or urine tests (NHS). MedlinePlus says a full blood count can check for anaemia, and a stool test can look for blood. To look inside the stomach, you will usually be referred for a gastroscopy (NHS):

a long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera (an endoscope) is passed through your mouth and down into your stomach;
small samples of cells (a biopsy) may be taken and sent to a laboratory;
the test takes about 10 to 15 minutes; it should not be painful, but it can be uncomfortable, and you may be offered a throat spray or sedation;
results usually come within about 2 weeks.

If cancer is found, more tests such as a CT scan, PET scan, an ultrasound through an endoscope or keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) show the size of the cancer and how far it has spread, called the stage (NHS).

Where to go in Malaysia: start at a klinik kesihatan or a GP. If needed, they can refer you to a hospital for a gastroscopy and to a surgical or gastroenterology clinic, or you can see a private specialist.

Rawatan and outlook

Treatment depends on the type and size of the cancer, where it is, whether it has spread and your general health (NHS). It usually includes:

surgery to remove part or all of the stomach (gastrectomy) if the cancer is found early and has not spread far; MedlinePlus says this is the standard treatment that can cure stomach adenocarcinoma;
chemotherapy, often before and after surgery;
sometimes radiotherapy, targeted medicines or immunotherapy.

Recovery from stomach surgery can take a long time, and the care team will help with changes to your diet (NHS). MedlinePlus says the outlook depends on how far the cancer has spread when it is found. When it has spread outside the stomach, a cure is less likely, and treatment aims to control symptoms and help people live longer, with support from a palliative care team.

A cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. It can help to bring someone with you to appointments and to ask your care team any questions you have.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Apa tanda awal kanser perut (what are the early signs of stomach cancer)?

Early stomach cancer may cause no symptoms, or symptoms that feel like everyday indigestion. The NHS lists heartburn or acid reflux, problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, burping a lot, feeling full very quickly, loss of appetite, weight loss without trying, pain or a lump at the top of the tummy, tiredness and darker than usual poo. These symptoms are very common and can be caused by many other conditions, but they should be checked by a doctor.

Bagaimana nak beza gastrik dan kanser perut (how can I tell gastritis from stomach cancer)?

You cannot tell them apart from symptoms alone, because stomach cancer can feel like gastritis or indigestion. See a doctor if indigestion symptoms do not get better after 3 weeks of your usual treatment, or if you have problems swallowing, weight loss without trying, a lump in your tummy, vomiting for more than 2 days, vomiting blood or black poo. A camera test (gastroscopy) is the main way to find out.

Apa punca kanser perut (what causes stomach cancer)?

It is not always clear. The NHS says you are more likely to get stomach cancer if you are over 50, are a man, have had H. pylori infection, have long-term severe acid reflux, gastritis or pernicious anaemia, or have a parent, brother or sister who had stomach cancer. Smoking, being overweight, a diet high in salted, smoked or poorly preserved foods and low in fruit and vegetables also raise the risk.

Adakah H. pylori menyebabkan kanser perut (does H. pylori cause stomach cancer)?

Long-term H. pylori infection of the stomach is a major risk factor for stomach cancer, according to the US National Cancer Institute, but most people with H. pylori never get cancer. Treating the infection lowers the risk of some types of stomach cancer. If you test positive, your doctor will usually prescribe antibiotics together with an acid-reducing medicine.

Adakah kanser perut biasa di Malaysia (is stomach cancer common in Malaysia)?

GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates 2,170 new cases of stomach cancer in Malaysia in 2024, making it the 6th most common cancer, and 1,773 deaths, making it the 5th most common cause of cancer death. A Malaysian review found that rates have fallen over time, but most patients are still diagnosed at a late stage.

Bagaimana kanser perut dikesan (how is stomach cancer diagnosed)?

The main test is a gastroscopy, where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is passed through the mouth into the stomach. Small samples of tissue (a biopsy) can be taken and checked for cancer. The test takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and you can have a throat spray or sedation to make it more comfortable. If cancer is found, scans are done to see how far it has spread.

Boleh sembuh ke kanser perut (can stomach cancer be cured)?

It depends on how early it is found. Surgery to remove part or all of the stomach, often with chemotherapy, can cure stomach cancer that has not spread. When the cancer has spread outside the stomach, a cure is less likely, and treatment aims to control symptoms and help people live longer. This is why symptoms that do not go away should be checked early.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

References

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