Every year, Sept. 7 marks Early Stomach Cancer Screening Day. Established by the Green Bell Foundation, a nonprofit organization, the day aims to raise awareness about early detection and lower mortality rates, highlighting that timely diagnosis offers a 97% chance of a cure.
Despite increased awareness, stomach cancer remains a major public health challenge in South Korea. According to 2023 statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Korea Central Cancer Registry, stomach cancer ranked fifth among all newly diagnosed cancers, behind thyroid, lung, colorectal, and breast cancers. Furthermore, data from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer shows South Korea recording 27 new cases per 100,000 residents—the third-highest incidence rate globally, following Mongolia and Japan.
The Critical Role of Regular Endoscopy
Kim Sang-il, head of H Plus Yangji Hospital, emphasized that early detection is the single most decisive factor in managing stomach cancer. While advanced cancer requires complex treatment that increases the physical burden on patients, early-stage detection allows for minimized intervention while significantly increasing the likelihood of a cure, yielding a five-year relative survival rate of 97.6%.
Because more than 80% of early-stage stomach cancer patients experience no noticeable symptoms, regular checkups are essential. To support early diagnosis, the Ministry of Health and Welfare provides an upper endoscopy every two years for men and women aged 40 and older through the National Cancer Screening Program, requiring only a 10% copayment. For patients unable to undergo an endoscopy due to severe respiratory illness or gastrointestinal perforation risks, diagnostic imaging tests are utilized as an alternative. If suspicious lesions are identified during screening, a biopsy is performed to guide further treatment based on the patient’s condition.
Recognizing Subtle Signals and High-Risk Factors
Addressing the recent rise in stomach cancer among younger individuals, Kim noted that while no single factor is responsible, bad lifestyle habits play a major role. Heavy workloads, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, irregular mealtimes, late-night dining, and frequent consumption of high-fat delivery foods—combined with lack of exercise, alcohol use, and smoking—place continuous strain on the stomach.
Kim warned against brushing off recurring digestive issues. Unexplained weight loss, persistent fatigue, abdominal pain, indigestion, heartburn, blood in the stool, black stools, or sudden changes in bowel habits should be evaluated by a physician rather than dismissed as stress.
In addition, individuals in high-risk categories—including those with a family history of stomach cancer, gastric adenomas (polyps), chronic atrophic gastritis, or a history of Helicobacter pylori infection—are advised to undergo annual endoscopy screenings regardless of standard national screening intervals.
