adult screening programme
Stomach cancer
The stomach is part of the digestive system. Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, tends to affect those over the age of 55. It is more common in men than in women.
Read more about stomach cancer on the NHS website.
UK NSC screening recommendation Based on the last UK NSC review of this condition that occurred in March 2021.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not currently recommend introducing a national screening programme for stomach cancer because:
- there is no appropriate screening test
- it is not known how and when to treat suspicious signs of stomach cancer
The condition
The stomach is part of the digestive system. Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, tends to affect those over the age of 55 and is more common in men than in women.
Findings supporting the UK NSC recommendation
The 2021 evidence review looked at the causes of stomach cancer in the UK.
Currently, bacterial infection (H.pylori), causes around 40% of stomach cancers, but there are indications that this might change over the next 20 years.
New evidence suggests that people under 50 are developing stomach cancer caused by other risk factors, such as being overweight. So, it will be important to continue to monitor these changes in the causes of stomach cancer before making a new recommendation.
Supporting documents from the 2021 review
Evidence review
This document provides the evidence on which the current UK NSC recommendation is based.
Coversheet
This document summarises the review process including the public consultation comments.
Review cycle
Date previous review completed: 2021
Next review estimated to be completed: 2024 to 2025.
To see previous evidence reviews, visit the UK NSC archive.
Organisations interested in Stomach cancer
These organisations have expressed interest in this recommendation and may submit responses to evidence reviews.
List of organisations
- British Association of Surgical Oncology
- British Society of Gastroenterology
- Cancer Research UK
- Faculty of Public Health
- Macmillan
- Northern Ireland Cancer Network
- Oesophageal Patients Association
- Rarer Cancers Forum
- Royal College of General Practitioners
- Royal College of Nursing
- Royal College of Pathologists
- Royal College of Physicians
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
- Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
- Royal College of Radiologists
- Royal College of Surgeons
- Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Society of Radiographers
- The British Association for Cancer Research
- Yorkshire Cancer Research
If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us.