Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act

The Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act would require the Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to conduct a comprehensive review of the current state of stomach cancer in the United States. The review would cover how often it occurs, risk factors (including Helicobacter pylori infection), screening availability and effectiveness, endoscopic screening and treatment options, and public awareness. The bill also directs the NCI to produce recommendations on defining high-risk populations, identifying high-risk individuals, establishing routine screening guidelines, and improving research and early detection efforts. In addition, the bill establishes a separate DoD study (in coordination with the NCI and the CDC) to examine stomach cancer incidence, risk factors (including service-related exposures), and the availability of screening and treatment within military and veterans’ health systems, with a report due within 18 months and recommendations for policy and program changes to reduce incidence and mortality among service members and veterans.