Globally, stomach cancer is the second-most common cancer among men and third-most among women. The symptoms and signs are often reported late when the disease is already in advanced stages and 5-year survival is less than 30% in developed countries and ~20% in developing countries. Gastric cancer is a leading problem in the North-eastern and Southern states of the Indian subcontinent.

The Need For Early Detection: Screening And Prevention of Stomach Cancer

The aggressive nature of the disease is depicted by the fact that globally gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death. The prevalence of H pylori infection varies from 56 to 89% among these cases. Gastric cancer occurs a decade earlier among south Indian males when compared to their north Indian counterparts.

The epidemiology of gastric cancer suggests a combination of genetic, socio-cultural, and environmental factors in a given region. Its etiologies include Helicobacter pylori infection, diet and lifestyle, tobacco, alcohol, and genetic susceptibility. A few Indian studies have identified the following risk factors: H. pylori infection, salted tea, pickled food, rice intake, spicy food, soda (food additive), tobacco, and alcohol.

Despite improvement in treatment modalities, the prognosis of stomach cancer remains poor. Based on the results from population-based studies, the 5-year survival rate for stomach cancer is ~20%. Screening programs enable early detection and improve the survival rates, more so among distal cancers (which have a better prognosis).

At Sammprada, our endeavor has been to initiate screening of common cancers for both the high-risk group (relatives of cancer patients) and the underserved community. Your generous assistance in sponsoring the procurement of the following items will enable us to initiate cancer prevention activities.

Tests which will be conducted: