Stomach Cancer Prevention

by Specialist

Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent stomach cancer.

Avoiding cancer risk factors may help prevent some cancers. Risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and lack of exercise. Adding protective factors, such as quitting smoking and exercising, may also help prevent some cancers. Talk to your doctor or other health care professional for information on how to lower your risk of cancer.

Risk factors for stomach cancer are as follows:

Some medical conditions

Having any of the following may increase your risk of developing stomach cancer:

  • H. pylori (H. pylori) infection of the stomach.
  • Intestinal epithelial metaplasia (a condition in which normal gastric mucosal cells are replaced by intestinal epithelial cells).
  • Chronic atrophic gastritis (thinning of the gastric mucosa triggered by long-term gastric inflammation).
  • Pernicious anemia (anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency).
  • Stomach polyps.

    Some genetic conditions

    The following genetic conditions may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer:

  • A parent, sister, or brother who has had stomach cancer.
  • Blood type A.
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
  • Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC, Lynch syndrome).

    Diet

    The following people may be at increased risk for stomach cancer:

  • A diet low in fruits and vegetables.
  • Consume foods that are high in salt or smoked.
  • Consume foods that are not cooked or stored properly.

    Environmental triggers

    The following environmental factors may increase the risk of stomach cancer:

  • Exposure to radiation.
  • Working in the rubber or coal industry.

    People from countries with high rates of gastric cancer have an increased risk of developing gastric cancer.

    The following protective factors may reduce the risk of stomach cancer:

    Quitting smoking

    Studies show that smoking is associated with an increased risk of developing stomach cancer. Quitting or never smoking may reduce the risk of stomach cancer. The risk of stomach cancer decreases over time after smokers quit.

    Treatment of H. pylori infection

    Studies have shown that chronic infection with H. pylori (H. pylori) is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Infection of the stomach with H. pylori may cause inflammation and changes in the cells of the stomach lining. Over time, these cells become abnormal and may become cancerous.

    Some studies have shown that treating H. pylori infection with antibiotics may reduce the risk of gastric cancer. We need to look further at whether treating H. pylori with antibiotics reduces the number of deaths in people with gastric cancer or if it stops the cancer-causing cells in the lining of the stomach from deteriorating further.

    One study found that patients who used a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) after H. pylori treatment were more likely to get gastric cancer than patients who did not use a PPI. More research is needed to determine whether PPIs cause gastric cancer in patients treated for H. pylori.

    It is unknown whether the following factors reduce the risk of gastric cancer or have no effect on the risk of gastric cancer:

    Diet

    Insufficient intake of fresh fruits and vegetables may increase the risk of gastric cancer. Some studies have shown that consuming fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C and beta-carotene may help reduce the risk of stomach cancer. Studies also suggest that whole-grain cereals, carotenoids, green tea, and certain ingredients in garlic may reduce the risk of stomach cancer.

    Studies suggest that consuming high levels of salt may increase the risk of stomach cancer. Many Americans now eat less salt to reduce the risk of high blood pressure. This may be the reason why stomach cancer rates in the United States have declined.

    Dietary supplements

    It is not known whether consuming certain types of vitamins, minerals, and dietary supplements can help reduce the risk of stomach cancer. A study in China of dietary supplementation with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium showed that supplementation reduced the number of deaths from stomach cancer. The study may have included people who did not have these nutrients in their daily diet. We cannot conclude whether the addition of dietary supplements would have the same effect on people with a healthy diet.

    Other studies have not demonstrated that taking dietary supplements, such as beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, or selenium, reduces the risk of stomach cancer.

    Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer.

    Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Some cancer prevention clinical trials are in healthy people who do not have cancer, but have an increased risk of developing cancer. Other cancer prevention clinical trials are in people who already have cancer and are trying to avoid other cancers of the same type or trying to reduce the risk of a new type of cancer. Other trials are in healthy volunteers who are not yet known to have any cancer risk factors.

    Some cancer prevention clinical trials are designed to find out if measures people take can prevent cancer. These may include eating fruits and vegetables, exercising, quitting smoking, or taking certain medicines, vitamins, minerals, or food supplements.

    Clinical trials are looking at new ways to prevent stomach cancer.

    Information about NCI-supported clinical trials can be found on the NCI’s Clinical Trials Search page. Clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.