Asian Americans and Their Unique Stomach Cancer Burden

“The compiled data [on Asian Americans] that comes out on [the cancer statistics database] SEER [Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results] does not do justice to the health inequity that exists,” says Yanghee Woo, MD, a surgical oncologist and the director of the gastroenterology minimally invasive therapy program at City of Hope, a cancer research and treatment organization.
“So treating all of us the same in cancer care is not right,” Woo says.
Stomach Cancer Is Usually Caused by Bacteria
Besides being Asian, the biggest risk factor for stomach cancer is exposure to a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori, says Robert Huang, MD, a gastroenterologist and an assistant professor of medicine at Stanford Health Care in California.
It’s often unclear how an H. pylori infection happens, but transmission methods include drinking contaminated water or eating food that hasn’t been prepared properly. It can also be passed through saliva, or on hands that weren’t washed thoroughly after using the bathroom.
“H. pylori is sort of endemic in some developing countries,” Woo says. “You can have it when you're a child, and it can stay in your stomach. There are bacteria that hide in the [lining] of the stomach, and it starts to create changes in the stomach over the course of time.”
While H. pylori is very common, Dr. Huang says it’s also simple to deal with once it’s detected.
“We can very easily treat this infection with a course of oral antibiotics taken over a two-week period,” Huang says. “If we could just get Asians tested for this infection, then we could potentially prevent a lot of [stomach] cancers.”
Diet Affects Stomach Cancer Risk
Though H. pylori is the biggest determinant, there are other risk factors that make Asian Americans more susceptible to stomach cancer — and Woo says they often work in combination.
Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
“I have many patients in their thirties and forties, and some as young as 21, who come in and their symptoms have been completely ignored,” Woo says. “More than 60 percent of our patients will have symptoms that have lasted more than 3 to 12 months.”
Importance of Stomach Cancer Screening for Asian Americans
Because many people experience zero symptoms, Woo says it’s important for Asian Americans to be proactive about screenings.
“I think there's some direct questions [patients] can ask, regardless of whether they have symptoms, when they're going to see their primary care physician or to a wellness check,” says Woo. “I think they should ask about their stomach health.”
That’s why Asian Americans should ask their doctors what their cancer risks are. If you’re experiencing chronic stomach symptoms, Woo says the question should be, “‘Are these symptoms concerning? I seem to be losing weight. I can’t eat as much as I used to.’ No 40-year-old should be losing weight unless they’re on a really strong and successful diet.”
“If you treat H. pylori early, [stomach cancer] is preventable. It decreases the risk,” Woo adds. “If you identify it early, you can be cancer free, so do not ignore the symptoms. Don't let the healthcare system tell you otherwise.”
The Takeaway
- Stomach cancer is more common among Asian Americans, especially Korean, Japanese, and Chinese people.
- Risk factors include an untreated H. pylori infection, diet, alcohol and tobacco use, and family history.
- Early detection greatly improves stomach cancer prognosis, but this cancer usually doesn’t cause early symptoms — and if they do, they're mild.
- Be proactive about screenings, and discuss any chronic stomach symptoms with your doctor to prevent and catch stomach cancer early.
Resources We Trust
- Mayo Clinic: What Is Stomach Cancer? A Mayo Clinic Expert Explains
- Cleveland Clinic: 8 Potential Warning Signs of Stomach Cancer
- American Cancer Society: Can Stomach Cancer Be Prevented?
- MD Anderson Cancer Center: ‘How I Knew I Had Stomach Cancer’: Six Survivors Share Their Symptoms
- National Cancer Institute: Stomach Cancer Causes and Risk Factors

Walter Tsang, MD
Medical Reviewer
Outside of his busy clinical practice, Tsang has taught various courses at UCLA Center for East West Medicine, Loma Linda University, and California University of Science and Medicine. He is passionate about health education and started an online seminar program to teach cancer survivors about nutrition, exercise, stress management, sleep health, and complementary healing methods. Over the years, he has given many presentations on integrative oncology and lifestyle medicine at community events. In addition, he was the founding co-chair of a lifestyle medicine cancer interest group, which promoted integrative medicine education and collaborations among oncology professionals.
Tsang is an active member of American Society of Clinical Oncology, Society for Integrative Oncology, and American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He currently practices at several locations in Southern California. His goal is to transform cancer care in the community, making it more integrative, person-centered, cost-effective and sustainable for the future.

Gretchen Smail
Author
She also has over five years of experience as an arts and culture journalist, and she's written about projects from creators of color for sites like Bustle, Oprah Daily, Vulture, The Guardian, Hollywood Reporter, IGN, and Nerdist.
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