What This Is Us Can Teach Us About Stomach Cancer

On screen

In NBC's This Is Us, William Hill enters the story as a man living with advanced stomach (gastric) cancer. Much of his arc is about reconnecting with his family and finding meaning and grace in the time he has. The show handles his illness quietly and tenderly, focusing less on medical detail and more on relationships, memory, and the emotions that a serious diagnosis brings.

That focus on feelings is true to life. It's also a chance to learn what stomach cancer actually is.

The reality

The National Cancer Institute explains that stomach (gastric) cancer is cancer that starts in the cells lining the stomach. The stomach is an organ on the left side of the upper abdomen that digests food, and it is part of the digestive tract — the long, twisting tube of hollow, muscular organs that runs from the mouth to the anus.

The NCI describes how food travels from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus, where stomach muscles mix it with digestive juices before it passes into the small intestine and then the large intestine.

There are several types of stomach cancer:

• Adenocarcinoma of the stomach begins in the mucus-producing cells in the innermost lining. The NCI notes that nearly all stomach cancers are adenocarcinomas. These are further described as gastric cardia (the top inch of the stomach) or non-cardia (all other sections), and as intestinal or diffuse depending on how the cells look under a microscope. The NCI notes diffuse adenocarcinomas tend to grow and spread more quickly and be harder to treat.
• Gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma forms where the esophagus meets the stomach.
• Gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and primary gastric lymphoma are less common cancers that can also start in the stomach.

What the story gets right — and what to remember

This Is Us gets something deeply human right: a cancer diagnosis is never only a medical event. It touches family, memory, and how a person wants to spend their days. William's story honors that.

What the show doesn't do — and doesn't try to do — is act as a medical guide. It doesn't detail his exact type of stomach cancer or treatment, and that's fine for a drama. But it's worth remembering that every real diagnosis is different, and a character's arc is not a prediction for anyone's life. Nothing here is medical advice.

Awareness, screening & prevention

The NCI's overview page for stomach cancer focuses on what the disease is and its types, and it links out to dedicated pages for causes and risk factors, symptoms, screening, and treatment. It notes that there is no standard screening test for stomach cancer and that tests are still being studied.

The NCI also points out that early symptoms of stomach cancer can resemble common conditions like indigestion and stomach pain, which is one reason the NCI encourages learning to recognize both early and advanced symptoms. For anything persistent or worrying, the reliable step is a conversation with a healthcare team rather than self-diagnosis.

Turning a story into something useful

William's quiet dignity stayed with a lot of viewers. If his story moves you, let it lead somewhere real: learn the facts from trustworthy sources, check in with the people you care about, and bring your questions to a healthcare team. Supporting free, accurate cancer education helps the next person find honest answers when they need them.

Questions to ask a healthcare team

• Where in the stomach did the cancer start, and what type is it?
• Has the cancer spread beyond the stomach lining?
• What symptoms should I pay attention to and report?
• What support is available for the emotional side of a diagnosis?