Part UT Health San Antonio
UT Health San AntonioUT Health San Antonio

UTSA Part of UT Health San Antonio

Contact Us | 210-450-9000

Menu
  • Find a Provider
  • Services
  • Cancer Types
  • Locations
  • Patient Care
  • Cancer Center
  • MyChart
  • X
  • Conditions
  • Conditions In-depth
  • Procedures
  • Wellness Centers
  • Natural & Alternative
  • Drug Info
  • Procedure Animations
  • Wellness Videos
Symptom CheckerQuick Nav
 
Health Library Home>Conditions InDepth>Article

Reducing Your Risk of Stomach Cancer

by Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD
Main Page
Risk Factors
Reducing Your Risk
Screening
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment Overview
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy
Surgical Procedures
Lifestyle Changes
Talking to Your Doctor
Resource Guide

A risk factor is something that increases your chances of developing cancer. Some risk factors cannot be changed, such as family history or genetics. Fortunately, many risk factors can be changed.

There are no specific guidelines to prevent stomach cancer because the cause is unknown. There are factors that can be changed to reduce your risk of many cancers. These include:

  • Dietary changes —Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, fish, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables are associated with lower rates of stomach cancer. Eating a healthful diet will also help with maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Quitting smoking — Smoking negatively affects every cell in the body. Quitting smoking is an important step in preventing cancer. The sooner smoking is stopped, the sooner the body can start to heal. Talk to your doctor about the options available to help you successfully quit.
  • Regular exercise —Regular exercise is good for overall health, wellness, and maintaining a healthy weight. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise (which can be a brisk walk) on most days of the week. If you currently do not exercise, talk to your doctor about how to get started on a program safely.
  • Manage health conditions —If you have symptoms associated with a gastric ulcer, talk to your doctor. Most ulcers are caused by a Helicobacter pylori infection. It is easily treated with antibiotics. If you have Barrett's esophagus or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), be sure to follow your treatment plan.
  • Drink alcohol in moderation —Moderation is two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women.
  • Aspirin use —Aspirin is associated with lower rates of stomach cancer. Since taking aspirin can have side effects, including gastrointestinal bleeding, talk to your doctor before starting any aspirin therapy.
REFERENCES:

Can stomach cancer be prevented? American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/stomach-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html. Updated March 15, 2016. Accessed September 1, 2017.

Gastric carcinoma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116155/Gastric-carcinoma. Updated September 16, 2016. Accessed September 1, 2017.

Last reviewed September 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Michael Woods, MD, FAAP  Last Updated: 6/26/2017

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.

Copyright ©  EBSCO Information Services
All rights reserved.
Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy
Physicians and care providers of
UT Health San Antonio

8300 Floyd Curl Dr.

San Antonio, TX 78229

210-450-9000

Connect with us
  • Patient Rights and Responsibilities
  • Language Assistance
We make lives better ©

We're a part of UT Health San Antonio, provider of comprehensive health,  dental, &  cancer care,  advanced academics  and  life-saving research.

Web Privacy | Links from websites affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's website (uthscsa.edu) to other websites do not constitute or imply university endorsement of those sites, their content, or products and services associated with those sites. The content on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Health information on this site is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat conditions. Consult a health care provider if you are in need of treatment.