How do you tell if you have a growth in your stomach?

September 24, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the American Cancer Society, stomach cancer is often diagnosed in later stages because early symptoms are vague and easy to dismiss. Determining how you tell if you have a growth in your stomach involves recognizing persistent or worsening symptoms that warrant medical evaluation, as a definitive diagnosis can only be made by a healthcare professional.

Quick Summary

Identifying a potential abdominal growth requires recognizing persistent symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, chronic abdominal pain, and early satiety (feeling full quickly), which differ from routine indigestion. A medical diagnosis, often involving imaging and endoscopy, is necessary to determine the cause, as these symptoms can also indicate less serious conditions.

Key Points

Persistent Symptoms are Key: Don't dismiss persistent or worsening abdominal pain, nausea, or bloating as regular indigestion; these could signal a deeper issue.
Look for Systemic Signs: Be mindful of systemic changes, such as unexplained weight loss, severe fatigue due to anemia, or feeling full after only a small meal.
Palpation is a Part of Diagnosis: A doctor may perform a physical exam to check for a palpable mass, but many growths are not physically felt, so further testing is necessary.
Diagnostic Tools are Crucial: Imaging tests like CT scans and ultrasounds, combined with an upper endoscopy and biopsy, are essential for an accurate diagnosis.
Not All Growths Are Malignant: Many growths are benign (non-cancerous), but only a medical professional can confirm this through proper testing and analysis.
Seek Prompt Medical Evaluation: For any concerning or persistent symptoms, a timely visit to a healthcare provider is the most important step for diagnosis and treatment.
Emergency Signs: Seek immediate medical care if you feel a pulsating lump along with severe pain, as this could indicate a life-threatening condition.

Understanding Abdominal Masses and Gastric Growths

A growth in your stomach is a non-specific term that can refer to an abdominal mass or a gastric mass. An abdominal mass is a general term for any abnormal growth in the belly area, which includes the stomach but also other organs like the liver, pancreas, and intestines. A gastric mass is more specifically located within the stomach lining or wall. While many abdominal growths are benign, some can be malignant (cancerous), which is why professional medical evaluation is essential. The key to identifying a potential issue is to be aware of your body and recognize when symptoms are more than just a passing discomfort.

Common Symptoms Associated with a Stomach Growth

Recognizing the signs of a potential stomach growth can be challenging because many symptoms overlap with common, less severe conditions like indigestion or gastritis. However, the persistence and severity of certain symptoms are critical indicators that you should consult a doctor.

Here are some of the most common symptoms to look for:

Persistent Abdominal Pain or Discomfort: Unlike a typical stomach ache, pain related to a growth may be constant or increase in severity over time. It may be a vague ache or a sharp, localized pain.
Unexplained Weight Loss: Losing weight without making any changes to your diet or exercise routine is a significant red flag. A growth can affect appetite and the body's ability to properly absorb nutrients.
Early Satiety or Feeling Full Quickly: A growth can reduce the stomach's capacity, causing you to feel full after eating only a small amount of food.
Nausea and Vomiting: While common with many ailments, persistent nausea and vomiting, especially if blood is present, should be a serious concern.
Changes in Bowel Habits: This can include persistent constipation or diarrhea, or changes in the color and consistency of your stool. Black, tarry stools can indicate internal bleeding.
Bloating and Swelling: A mass can cause noticeable swelling in the abdomen, which may or may not be accompanied by discomfort or pain.
Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia): If the growth is in the upper part of the stomach or esophagus, it can cause food to feel stuck in your throat.
Fatigue: Anemia, caused by internal bleeding, is a common consequence and can lead to severe and persistent fatigue.

The Importance of Physical Examination and Palpation

While self-diagnosis is not possible, a physical exam by a doctor is a crucial first step. During an exam, your doctor may palpate (gently press on) your abdomen to feel for any abnormal lumps, swelling, or tenderness. It is important to note that many growths are not palpable and may not cause a visible bulge, so the absence of a physical lump does not rule out a growth. A palpable mass, especially if it is firm or fixed, warrants immediate further investigation. In very rare cases, a pulsating mass near the navel could indicate an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a medical emergency.

Comparing Benign and Malignant Stomach Growths

It is important to remember that not all growths are cancerous. The process of diagnosis will differentiate between various possibilities, from harmless cysts to more serious conditions. The table below outlines some key differences in presentation.


Feature	Benign Growths (e.g., polyps, cysts, fibroids)	Malignant Growths (e.g., Stomach Cancer)
Symptom Onset	Often slow and subtle, may be asymptomatic until a large size.	Can be slow and subtle initially, but often progress and worsen over time.
Associated Symptoms	Can cause localized pain, bleeding, or obstruction depending on size and location.	Associated with a wider range of systemic symptoms like unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and persistent pain.
Growth Rate	Typically slow-growing or may not grow at all.	Tends to grow and spread more rapidly.
Palpability	May be palpable if large or superficially located.	Can be palpable in later stages, often feeling firm and irregular.
Bleeding	May cause slow, chronic bleeding.	Can cause more significant bleeding, leading to anemia and tarry stools.

Diagnostic Procedures and Tests

If your doctor suspects a growth, they will order several diagnostic tests to confirm the presence and nature of the mass. These tests are the only way to accurately tell if you have a growth in your stomach.

Imaging Tests: These provide a visual representation of your abdominal organs. Common tests include abdominal CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound. These can reveal the size, location, and nature of the mass.
Endoscopy: An upper endoscopy is a key diagnostic tool for examining the stomach. A thin, flexible tube with a camera (endoscope) is passed down the throat into the stomach, allowing the doctor to visually inspect the stomach lining.
Biopsy: During an endoscopy, the doctor can take a tissue sample (biopsy) from the growth. This sample is then analyzed in a lab to determine if it is benign or cancerous.
Blood and Stool Tests: Blood tests can check for signs of infection, anemia, or other irregularities. A fecal occult blood test can detect microscopic amounts of blood in your stool.

For more detailed information on various types of abdominal masses and their diagnosis, consult a trusted medical resource such as the Cleveland Clinic's section on abdominal masses.

Conclusion: The Path to Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms are your body's way of communicating that something is wrong. While a simple upset stomach is common, persistent, severe, or unusual symptoms should not be ignored. Paying attention to signs like unexplained weight loss, chronic pain, or early satiety is the first step toward getting a proper diagnosis. It is crucial to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate assessment rather than relying on self-diagnosis. Through a combination of physical examination and advanced diagnostic tools like endoscopy and imaging, a doctor can determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the appropriate course of action. Early detection significantly improves outcomes for many serious conditions, so timely medical evaluation is of utmost importance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sometimes, a large or superficial growth in the abdomen can be felt as a lump or area of swelling during a physical exam or by palpation. However, many growths, especially those in the early stages, are not palpable. The absence of a physical lump does not mean a growth is not present.

Early signs can be subtle and non-specific, often mimicking other digestive issues. They can include mild stomach discomfort, early satiety (feeling full quickly), mild nausea, or persistent indigestion. These symptoms can be easily dismissed, which is why paying attention to their persistence is important.

To diagnose a stomach growth, doctors may use a combination of physical exams, blood and stool tests, imaging tests like CT scans and ultrasounds, and an upper endoscopy. An endoscopy allows for a visual inspection of the stomach lining and for a biopsy to be taken.

A benign growth is non-cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant (cancerous) growth, however, can invade surrounding tissues and spread. Diagnostic procedures, including a biopsy, are necessary to differentiate between the two.

No, it is not always cancer. Many abdominal and gastric masses are benign. Causes can range from harmless polyps or cysts to inflammation and infection. Only a medical professional can provide a proper diagnosis.

You should see a doctor if you experience persistent or severe abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, frequent nausea or vomiting, difficulty swallowing, or changes in bowel habits. If you have severe, sudden pain or a pulsating lump, seek emergency medical care.

While often benign, some serious causes of an abdominal mass include abdominal aortic aneurysm, which can feel like a pulsating lump, and certain cancers affecting the stomach, liver, or other abdominal organs. An abscess or fluid-filled kidney (hydronephrosis) can also present as a mass.

Treatment for a benign stomach growth depends on its size, location, and symptoms. Smaller, asymptomatic growths may be monitored with regular checkups. If a growth causes pain or bleeding, or if there is a risk of it becoming cancerous, it may be removed surgically or endoscopically.