Is It Possible to Prevent Stomach Cancer?

Along with preventing chronic infection caused by Helicobacter pylori, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, reaching and maintaining an ideal weight, and having regular checkups if you have a hereditary risk of stomach cancer may reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer.

Stomach cancer accounts for approximately 5.6% of new cancer cases in Turkey each year. In 2020, 13,075 new cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed in Turkey, and 10,789 people died from this disease. Unfortunately, there has been no observed decline in new stomach cancer cases. However, many preventive measures, improvements in food safety, and advances in health care can reduce the risk of stomach cancer.

Preventing Stomach Cancer 

There is no certain way to prevent stomach cancer completely, but steps can be taken to reduce some risk factors for the disease. Certain stomach cancer risk factors are modifiable, and action can be taken to improve them. Monitoring factors that cannot be changed can also help with early diagnosis and treatment, potentially contributing to substantially better outcomes.

Modifiable Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer

• Being overweight or obese
• A diet high in processed, barbecued, or grilled meats and low in fruit
• Regular alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Working in industries such as metal, rubber, and coal
• Having an untreated Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection

Nonmodifiable risk factors include:

• Being aged 60 or older
• Having a particular racial or ethnic background: Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asian Americans have a higher risk of developing stomach cancer than non-Hispanic white people.
• Having had stomach surgery
• Having certain types of stomach polyps
• Having conditions such as Menetrier disease or anemia
• Having a hereditary cancer syndrome or a family history of stomach cancer
• Having blood type A

Maintain a Healthy Weight

Researchers report that being overweight or obese is associated with cancers affecting the upper part of the stomach. Reaching and maintaining a healthy weight may help reduce stomach cancer risk.

Regular physical activity and following a healthy, nutritious dietary pattern such as the Mediterranean, MIND or DASH diet can help a person reach and maintain a healthy weight. Although further research is needed, studies show that some foods increase stomach cancer risk, while others may reduce it.

Foods that increase stomach cancer risk and should be avoided:

• Foods high in salt
• Smoked foods
• Poorly preserved foods
• Pickles
• Grilled, barbecued, and processed meats

Foods that may help reduce stomach cancer risk:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Citrus fruit
• Green tea
• Whole grains
• Foods containing allium compounds, such as garlic, leeks, and onions
• Foods rich in carotenoids, such as cabbage, spinach, carrots, and tomatoes

Avoid Smoking and Alcohol

Smoking increases the risk of stomach cancer and other health problems. Researchers have found that smokers are more likely to develop stomach cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking may also reduce the effectiveness of treatment for H. pylori infection, another risk factor for stomach cancer. Quitting smoking will reduce stomach cancer risk over time.

Regular alcohol consumption increases stomach cancer risk. According to AKD, people who develop stomach cancer and consume three or more alcoholic drinks a day provide strong evidence of alcohol's effect on stomach cancer. Avoiding or reducing alcohol consumption will reduce stomach cancer risk. 

Treating H. pylori Infection

H. pylori bacterial infection is the most common cause of peptic ulcers. The bacteria break down the stomach's protective layer, causing ulcers. This can lead to inflammation. These changes in the stomach lining may cause its cells to become precancerous.

Chronic H. pylori infection may increase stomach cancer risk. Researchers have found that treating the infection with antibiotics may prevent changes in the stomach lining, which could reduce the risk of stomach cancer. However, further research is needed to determine whether this is the case.

Use Medications Responsibly

According to AKD, researchers have associated the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen, with a lower risk of stomach cancer. However, AKD also warns that excessive NSAID use may cause health complications that outweigh these potential benefits. Possible problems include life-threatening internal bleeding, increased blood pressure, and kidney and liver damage. Experts therefore strongly advise against using NSAIDs to prevent stomach cancer. Medications should always be used only as directed by health professionals. 

Know Whether Stomach Cancer Runs in Your Family

People with close relatives, such as siblings or parents, who have had stomach cancer may be more likely to develop the disease. However, most people with the disease have no family history of stomach cancer.

A person's stomach cancer risk may increase substantially if someone in their family has a rare genetic syndrome called hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). The most common cause of this syndrome is an inherited alteration in the CDH1 gene.

What Are the First Signs of Stomach Cancer?

Stomach cancer symptoms can be difficult to recognize because they are shared with several other conditions. These symptoms may include:

• Indigestion
• Heartburn or reflux
• Nausea or vomiting
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling full very quickly
• Loss of appetite
• Uncontrolled weight loss
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• A sensation of a lump in the upper abdomen

You cannot diagnose stomach cancer through self-examination. Medical tests are needed to diagnose stomach cancer, since its symptoms generally resemble those of various other conditions. 

When Should You See a Doctor?

You should see a doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Feeling a lump in the abdomen
• Difficulty swallowing
• Digestive symptoms that do not improve for 3 weeks after standard treatments
• The stomach cancer symptoms listed above persist for 3 weeks without improving, or become worse

We Can Reduce Stomach Cancer Risk

Stomach cancer cannot always be prevented, but addressing certain modifiable factors may help reduce the risk. These include maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco and alcohol, and receiving treatment for H. pylori infection when necessary. Although NSAIDs are associated with reduced stomach cancer risk, experts do not recommend using them for this purpose because of the unwanted side effects of long-term use.