Gastric Cancer Initiative
About the GCI
Gastric cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide and is diagnosed in 27,000 Americans each year. In the United States, this burden falls disproportionately on ethnic minority and immigrant communities, especially Asians. There is currently no coherent national strategy for the early detection or risk reduction of gastric cancer, even among identified high-risk groups. As a result, patients with gastric cancer in the United States are often diagnosed at later stages and experience worse overall survival compared with nations in East Asia that have established screening programs.
The under-recognition of gastric cancer risk among minority communities may be one of the most significant unaddressed healthcare issues in the United States. A national dialogue is needed to develop strategies that decrease morbidity and mortality from gastric cancer, particularly among the most vulnerable populations.