A recent global study has highlighted a serious concern: over 15 million individuals born between 2008 and 2017 may develop gastric cancer in their lifetime. India is projected to have the second-highest number of cases globally, following China.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study reveals that nearly two-thirds of these potential cases will occur in Asia, with the rest largely in the Americas and Africa.
Conducted by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the study used data from 185 countries, combining the GLOBOCAN 2022 database with UN estimates on population and mortality.
The research predicts around 15.6 million global cases within this age group, with 76% of them linked to the common stomach bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).
“This bacterial infection is the main cause of gastric cancer,” the authors said. “It leads to long-term inflammation in the stomach, which increases cancer risk if left untreated.”
Gastric cancer, or stomach cancer, is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. It is often called a “silent killer” because symptoms may be vague or appear only in advanced stages.
Common symptoms of gastric cancer:
- Persistent indigestion or heartburn
- Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain, especially after meals
- Fatigue or weakness
- In some cases, blood in stool or vomit
“Early symptoms are often mistaken for regular digestive issues,” experts warn. “That’s why early screening, especially in high-risk countries, is critical.”
India and Asia at high risk
The study projects Asia will see 10.6 million new gastric cancer cases, with India and China alone contributing 6.5 million. In India, the number could rise to 1.65 million cases if no action is taken.
Researchers also caution that sub-Saharan Africa, though currently low-risk, could see a sixfold increase in gastric cancer cases in the future.
Prevention is key
The authors strongly urge countries to invest in screening and treating H. pylori to reduce future cases. They note that up to 75 per cent of cases could be prevented if treatment is done early.