Latency period of gastric cancer

The incubation period of gastric cancer, that is, the time from early lesions to obvious symptoms of gastric cancer, may vary from a few months to several years. The specific duration varies from person to person and is affected by many factors.

First, the pathological type of gastric cancer is an important factor affecting the incubation period. For example, diffuse gastric cancer has a high degree of malignancy, and when the patient is in poor health, the incubation period may be only 1 to 2 years; while intestinal gastric cancer has a relatively low degree of malignancy, and when the patient is in good health, the incubation period may be as long as 5 to 10 years. At the same time, personal habits, genetic factors, and environmental factors may also affect the incubation period of gastric cancer. Long-term smoking, alcoholism, and poor eating habits increase the risk of gastric cancer and may shorten the incubation period.

Early symptoms of gastric cancer are often not obvious, such as stomach discomfort and dull pain, which are easily overlooked. Therefore, regular physical examination, early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions are of great significance for prolonging the incubation period of gastric cancer and improving the treatment effect.