The UK NSC recommendation on Stomach cancer screening in adults

Find general information about population health screening.

Why is screening not recommended by UK NSC?

Screening is not recommended because:

• as of yet there is no initial test that is both reliable and harmless, and therefore which can be used on everybody

• there are diagnostic tests that can confirm the presence of cancer, but they are too harmful and invasive to be used on everybody as the first test

• it is not known how and when to treat suspicious signs of cancer

More about Stomach cancer

The stomach is an organ that links the oesophagus (gullet) and the duodenum (top of the small intestine). It is part of the digestive system, and its main function is to digest food that is eaten so that the nutrients can be easily absorbed into the body. It does this by contracting the muscles in the stomach wall that help to break down solid food. Cancer of the stomach, which is also known as gastric cancer, affects approximately 8,200 people in the UK every year. Stomach cancer tends to affect those over the age of 55, and it is almost twice as common among men than women.

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that inhabits various areas of the stomach and duodenum. It causes a chronic low-level inflammation of the stomach lining and is strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and stomach cancer.

» Read more about stomach cancer on NHS Choices

» Read more about stomach cancer on Cancerbackup

Stakeholders

• The British Association for Cancer Research
• British Association of Surgical Oncology
• British Society of Gastroenterology
• Cancer Research UK
• Faculty of Public Health
• Oesophageal Patients Association
• Rarer Cancers Forum
• Royal College of General Practitioners
• 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 and College of Radiographers

The stakeholder groups will be involved when the recommendation is next reviewed. If you think your organisation should be added, please contact us. More information for stakeholders can be found in appendix C of the UK NSC evidence review process.

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