This test is used to check for hidden blood in your stool. A small amount of your stool is put on a plastic slide or a special type of paper. You may do this test at home. Stomach cancer can sometimes cause small amounts of bleeding. This can be hard to see. But other problems that aren’t cancer can also cause this. Even if the test shows blood in your stool, you’ll likely need more tests to find the cause.

Blood tests can check if you have low red blood cell counts. This could be due to bleeding in your stomach. Blood tests can also be used to see how well certain organs are working and get an idea of what your overall health is like.

This test is also called an EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). It's a common procedure used to look for stomach cancer. It’s often the first test done.

This test lets your healthcare provider look at the inside of your stomach. A long, thin, flexible, lighted tube (endoscope) is used to do this. First, you are given medicines to make you sleepy. A numbing medicine is sprayed into your throat to help keep you from gagging. Then the scope is put in through your mouth, passed down your food pipe (esophagus), and into your stomach. A camera on the end lets your provider look at your stomach lining. The provider also checks the lining of your esophagus and part of the first section of your small intestine (duodenum).

If your provider sees any changes in the tissue, small pieces (called samples) of the changed tissue can be taken out through the scope. They're then checked under a microscope for cancer cells. This is called an endoscopic biopsy. 

This is also called a barium swallow. It uses X-rays to find even small changes in your stomach lining. For this test, you’ll drink a thick, chalky fluid with barium in it. The barium lines your stomach. This makes it easier to see on an X-ray.

To look for very small tumors, your healthcare provider may use a double contrast method. For this, a small tube is placed in your stomach after you drink the barium. Air is then pumped through the tube into your stomach. This makes the barium coating thinner around the inside of your stomach. This helps tiny changes in your stomach lining show up on the X-rays.

This is the most common type of biopsy used. Before the procedure, you’re given medicine to help you relax and a numbing medicine is sprayed into your throat. This is to help prevent gagging. Then your healthcare provider puts a long, thin, flexible tube called an endoscope into your mouth. It's guided down your esophagus and into your stomach. He or she looks at the lining of your stomach with the scope. Tools can be passed through the scope to take tissue samples from any abnormal areas.

This procedure may be used if your healthcare provider thinks the cancer is deeper in the wall of your stomach (not in the stomach lining).

This test also uses an endoscope. You’ll be given medicine to help you relax. A numbing medicine is sprayed into your throat to help prevent gagging. The endoscope is then put into your mouth and guided into your stomach. This scope has a special ultrasound tool at the tip. The ultrasound tip is put against your stomach wall to create images. 

Your healthcare provider looks at your stomach lining with the scope. He or she can also see images of the deeper layers of your stomach, lymph nodes, and other nearby tissues. If changes are seen, your provider will pass a thin, hollow needle through the scope and into the change. This needle is used to take out tiny pieces of tissue to test in the lab.