Gastric cancer mortality continues to fall worldwide. The decline in incidence is less rapid suggesting that either operative mortality or surgical treatment is improving or both. A review of English language literature has confirmed a progressive and significant decline in operative mortality between 1970 and 1990. Similarly, in reported series in the English language literature, the 5-year survival rates following resections for gastric cancer have significantly increased between 1970 and 1990. Between these years, the outlook for patients with gastric cancer has improved and that improvement continues. There should be uniformity in recording and reporting of series. Clinicians treating gastric cancer should continue to pursue early diagnosis and more radical surgical treatment.