Stomach Cancer Awareness Month: Learning About a Cancer With Some Preventable Causes

What this observance is

Every November, Stomach Cancer Awareness Month raises attention to cancers of the stomach, also called gastric cancer. The nonprofit No Stomach For Cancer championed the first official U.S. observance in 2010, and November was chosen partly because it is a month centered on food and family — a meaningful time to think about a cancer that affects digestion. The aim is calm and educational: help people understand what stomach cancer is and which risk factors can be addressed.

What this cancer is

According to the National Cancer Institute, stomach (gastric) cancer is cancer that starts in the cells lining the stomach, an organ in the upper abdomen that digests food. NCI explains that nearly all stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas, which begin in the mucus-producing cells of the stomach's innermost lining. Less common types include gastrointestinal stromal tumors, neuroendocrine tumors, and primary gastric lymphoma.

NCI notes that stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and is more common in some parts of the world — including East Asia, Eastern Europe, and South America — than in the United States. It can be diagnosed at any age, but risk generally increases as a person gets older.

Screening and prevention (per NCI)

NCI states plainly that there is no standard screening test for stomach cancer, though some tests are being studied. That makes understanding risk factors especially useful. NCI describes several: chronic infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a major risk factor for cancer in the lower and middle parts of the stomach, and NCI notes that treating H. pylori infections reduces the risk of these types of stomach cancer. Other factors include certain stomach conditions, family history, a diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in salted and smoked foods, and tobacco use.

Because H. pylori is a treatable infection, it is one of the more actionable parts of the picture — which is why awareness campaigns highlight it. If you are wondering what applies to you, our free screening check-up tool can help you organize your thoughts before talking with a clinician.

How to take part

• If you have ongoing digestive symptoms, ulcers, or a known H. pylori infection, ask your healthcare team what follow-up is appropriate.
• Know your family history — NCI lists having a close relative with stomach cancer as a risk factor.
• Consider the dietary patterns NCI describes, favoring more fruits and vegetables.
• If you use tobacco, ask about quitting smoking.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Do I have risk factors for stomach cancer, and should I be tested for H. pylori?
• Are my digestive symptoms something worth investigating further?
• Does my family history change anything about my care?
• What dietary or lifestyle changes might lower my risk?