Protect Your Stomach! Know the Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is one of the top 10 most common and deadly cancers worldwide, ranking 5th in both cancer incidence and cancer mortality globally. According to Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, based on the 2023 Cancer Registry and 2024 Cause of Death Statistics, stomach cancer ranked 9th in cancer incidence and 7th in cancer-related deaths in Taiwan.

Risk Factors for Stomach Cancer

Risk factors for stomach cancer include:

• Older age
• Smoking
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection
• History of gastric ulcers
• History of stomach surgery
• Having a first-degree relative with stomach cancer

Among these, H. pylori infection is the most important risk factor. Eradication treatment can reduce the incidence of stomach cancer by approximately 50% and stomach cancer mortality by about 40%.

Large-scale H. pylori screening and treatment programs implemented in Matsu, Taiwan, have demonstrated that screening and eradication are feasible and effective strategies for reducing stomach cancer incidence. People who have been infected with H. pylori and have additional risk factors for stomach cancer are advised to receive regular follow-up and monitoring.

Other risk factors include a high-salt diet, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and frequent intake of red and processed meats. Therefore, maintaining healthy eating habits and a healthy lifestyle can also help lower the risk of stomach cancer.

Although Taiwan has seen a slowing trend in the age-standardized incidence rate of stomach cancer and a decline in the age-standardized mortality rate in recent years, H. pylori infection remains the major risk factor for stomach cancer.

To strengthen stomach cancer prevention, beginning in 2026, Taiwan provides adults aged 45–74 with one government-funded H. pylori stool antigen test in their lifetime. This screening program aims to reduce the incidence of stomach cancer, and eligible individuals are encouraged to make use of this service.

Source: HPA, Taiwan https://health99.hpa.gov.tw/health99/Subject/Detail/41057?nodeId=8