Need a bellyful of good news?
New research shows that US doctors are detecting stomach cancers earlier and at more treatable stages, marking a major shift in the fight against the deadly disease.
The findings come as cases among younger Americans are climbing, flipping the script on a cancer once seen mostly in older adults.
In a sweeping study, researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute and found early-stage diagnoses increased by a whopping 53% between 2004 and 2021.
Meanwhile, cases where the disease had spread to nearby lymph nodes and organs plummeted by 38%, while those where the cancer had spread to distant organs fell by nearly 8%.
“These trends suggest that advancements in endoscopic imaging, along with more widespread use of upper endoscopy, may be helping doctors find stomach cancer earlier,” said Dr. Mohamed Tausif Siddiqui, the study’s lead author and a gastroenterology fellow at the Cleveland Clinic.
In fact, researchers found that 2021 marked the first year in which localized, early-stage stomach cancer became the most common stage at diagnosis, surpassing advanced-stage cases.
“These shifts are important because catching stomach cancer earlier can lead to less-invasive treatment and better patient outcomes,” said Siddiqui, who presented the findings earlier this month at Digestive Disease Week — a major international medical conference.
Overall, the rate of stomach cancer in the US has slightly decreased, from 8.44 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 7.53 in 2021.
But there’s a troubling trend bubbling beneath the surface: Americans under 50, especially women, are being diagnosed more often — and their cases are frequently detected at more advanced stages.
Scientists are still working to understand what’s fueling the shift, but one thing is clear: early detection is essential.
When caught before the disease has spread beyond the stomach, the five-year survival rate is 75%, according to the American Cancer Society.
However, that rate drops to 36% once the cancer spreads to nearby lymph nodes or organs, and plummets to just 7% when it spreads to distant parts of the body.
Dr. Amit Bhatt, staff gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic and senior author of the study, said the findings could spark discussions about targeted screening for stomach cancer in high-risk groups.
Currently, Americans only get checked if they have symptoms, a family history of the disease, or other risk factors.
That can be a problem, as stomach cancer often develops slowly and doesn’t show signs in its early stages. When symptoms do appear, they’re usually vague and easily written off.
“The symptoms are not clear-cut, and they overlap with many other benign conditions,” Dr. Mojun Zhu, a medical oncologist who specializes in gastrointestinal cancers, told the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center Blog.
“A lot of our younger patients attribute their symptoms to indigestion or reflux, so they don’t follow up or seek medical care immediately,” she added.
Medical News Today reports that early signs of stomach cancer include:
- Reduced appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Persistent heartburn or indigestion
- Abdominal pain or discomfort
- Nausea and vomiting
- Bloating, especially after eating
As the cancer progresses, more noticeable symptoms may develop, including:
- Bloody vomit
- Fatigue
- Severe abdominal pain
- Blood in stool
- Abdominal fluid buildup
“When people feel their symptoms are not getting better — they’ve started losing weight, struggling with eating and swallowing — that’s when they come to see us,” Zhu said.
In 2025, the American Cancer Society estimates that about 30,300 new cases of stomach cancer will be diagnosed in the US, with roughly 10,780 people expected to die from the disease.
People at the greatest risk for stomach cancer include those with a Helicobacter pylori infection, a family history of the disease, certain genetic conditions and long-term digestive issues like acid reflux.
The odds also increase those who are overweight, inactive or have had stomach surgery in the past.
And diet matters: people who eat a lot of smoked, salted or pickled foods — and skimp on fruits and veggies — face higher risk, especially if they smoke or drink heavily.
