Stomach Cancer Prevention

The following stomach cancer risk factors can influence your chances of developing a type of stomach cancer called adenocarcinoma, which develops in the inner lining of the stomach. Adenocarcinomas account for up to 95% of stomach cancers.

• Sex. Stomach cancer affects approximately 50% more men than women in the U.S.
• Age. The age at diagnosis appears to be dropping. But a person’s risk of developing stomach cancer increases with age. Most patients diagnosed with stomach cancer are age 60 or older.
• Bacterial infection. Having a long-term Helicobacter pylori( pylori) bacterial infection is a leading risk factor of stomach cancer. But most infections are treatable, and the overwhelming majority of people who have an H. pylori infection never develop stomach cancer.
• Obesity. Being overweight increases a person’s risk for stomach cancer.
• Diet. Risk of stomach cancer is increased by eating a lot of certain foods, such as processed or charcoaled meats, and food preserved by salting, such as pickled meat.
• Alcohol use. People who drink three or more alcoholic beverages a day are at increased risk for stomach cancer.
• Smoking. People who smoke have about twice the risk for stomach cancer than nonsmokers.

Certain inherited genetic mutations, such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, raise a person’s risk of stomach cancer. Anyone with these inheritable syndromes should talk to their gastroenterologist about the benefits and risks of screening with regular endoscopy.

People who have an inherited syndrome called hereditary diffuse gastric cancer have mutations in the CDH1 gene that significantly increase their risk of stomach cancer. The risk is so high, in fact, that it’s recommended they have their stomachs removed preemptively.

Inheritable genetic mutations account for a very small subset of gastric cancers, meaning the majority of stomach cancers are isolated occurrences.

Having a gastric ulcer in the stomach caused by an H. pylori infection can increase a person’s risk of developing stomach cancer. In any event, having a stomach ulcer does not mean you will develop stomach cancer. Advances in ulcer management over the years has greatly improved stomach cancer incidence.

As we continue to learn more about stomach cancer and its causes, the following stomach cancer prevention recommendations may help you reduce your risk:

• Not using any tobacco products
• Not drinking alcohol
• Maintaining a healthy body weight (e.g. body mass index below 25)
• Being physically active every day
• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (particularly citrus fruits) and low in processed meats
• Seeking treatment for an H. pylori infection

Winship and our colleagues across Emory University are dedicated to curing cancer through our extensive research program, which goes beyond developing novel therapies to treat the disease. In fact, the Rollins School of Public Health is currently involved in research to better understand and prevent all obesity-related cancers, including stomach cancer.