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<div class="HwContainer HwElement" id="HwContainer"><a class="HwMainSkipNavigation" href="#HwContentTitle"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Skip Navigation</span></a><div class="HwBlock" id="HwMain" role="main"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar1"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomSidebar"> </div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnContent"><div id="HwContentTop"> </div><div class="HwTypeNci HwContentWrapper HwElement" role="article" id="HwContentWrapper"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentTop"> </div><div class="HwContentHeader"><p><a name="top" id="Hwtop"><span class="HwAccessibilityText">Top of the page</span></a> </p></div><div class="HwContentTitle"><h1 id="HwContentTitle" tabindex="-1">Stomach (Gastric) Cancer Screening: Screening - Patient Information [NCI]</h1></div><div class="HwContentTopNavigation"> </div><div class="HwContent"><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionFloat" id="sec-ncicdr0000315400-nci-header"> <p> <span class="Size1">This information is produced and provided by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The information in this topic may have changed since it was written. For the most current information, contact the National Cancer Institute via the Internet web site at http://cancer.gov or call 1-800-4-CANCER.</span> </p> </div><div class="HwNavigationSection HwSectionVendor" id="sec-ncicdr0000315400-01"><a class="HwSectionNameTag" name="ncicdr0000315400-01" id="anchor-ncicdr0000315400-01" aria-hidden="true"> </a><h2 class="HwSectionTitle">Stomach Cancer Screening</h2> <p>Screening is looking for cancer before a person has any <a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach/symptoms" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">symptoms</span></a>. This can help detect cancer at an early stage. When abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it may be easier to treat. </p> <p>In the United States, there are no standard or routine screening tests to detect stomach cancer in people at average risk. Researchers are working to develop such tests. If a test reduces the number of deaths from stomach cancer, it may become a standard screening test.</p> <p> <b>Tests to screen for stomach cancer</b> </p> <p>Some people who have a higher risk of stomach cancer may benefit from screening with upper endoscopy, including: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li>older people with chronic gastric atrophy or pernicious anemia</li> <li>people who have had <ul style="list-style-type: disc"><li>partial gastrectomy</li><li>a family history of stomach cancer</li></ul></li> <li>people who have certain genetic syndromes</li> <li>people from countries where stomach cancer is more common</li> </ul> <p>Learn more about <a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.cancer.gov/types/stomach/causes-risk-factors" title="Opens in a new window"><span class="HwLinkText">risk factors for stomach cancer</span></a>. </p> <p> <b>Upper endoscopy</b> </p> <p>Upper endoscopy is a procedure to look inside the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (first part of the small intestine) to check for abnormal areas. An endoscope is passed through the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus. An endoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue, which is checked under a microscope for signs of disease.<img data-hw-resource-path="media/medical/nci/cdr0000433287.jpg" src="https://ixbapi.healthwise.net/Resource/14.3/en-us/media/medical/nci/cdr0000433287.jpg" hw:resource-path="media/medical/nci/cdr0000433287.jpg" alt="Upper endoscopy; drawing shows an endoscope (a thin, lighted tube) inserted through the mouth and down the throat into the esophagus and stomach. An inset shows a patient on a table having an upper endoscopy." data-hw-width="460" data-hw-height="300" hw:release-quarter="14.3"><br><span class="Size1">Upper endoscopy. A thin, lighted tube called an endoscope is inserted through the mouth and down the throat to check for abnormal areas in the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.</span></p> <p> <b>Risks of stomach cancer screening</b> </p> <p>Talk with your doctor about whether stomach cancer screening is right for you. </p> <p>Potential risks of stomach cancer screening include: </p> <ul style="list-style-type: disc"> <li> <b>False-negative test results.</b> Screening test results may appear to be normal even though stomach cancer is present. A person who receives a false-negative test result (one that shows there is no cancer when there really is) may delay seeking medical care even if there are symptoms. </li> <li> <b>False-positive test results.</b> Screening test results may appear to be abnormal even though no cancer is present. A false-positive test result (one that shows there is cancer when there really isn't) can cause anxiety and is usually followed by more tests and procedures which also have risks. </li> <li> <b>Risks of the screening test itself.</b> Upper endoscopy may cause the following rare, but serious, complications: <ul style="list-style-type: disc"><li>a small hole (puncture) in the esophagus or stomach</li><li>heart problems</li><li>breathing problems</li><li>lung infection from inhaling food, fluid, or stomach acid into the lung</li><li>severe bleeding that needs to be treated at a hospital</li><li>reactions to medicine used during the procedure</li></ul></li> </ul> <p>Last Revised: 2023-05-31</p> <hr> <p> <i>If you want to know more about cancer and how it is treated, or if you wish to know about clinical trials for your type of cancer, you can call the NCI's Cancer Information Service at <b>1-800-422-6237</b>, toll free. A trained information specialist can talk with you and answer your questions. </i> </p> <hr> </div></div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomContentBottom"> </div><div class="HwContentNavigation HwContentNavigationNoSections"><div class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </div><div class="HwContentNavigationTop"><a href="#top">Top of the page</a></div><div class="HwContentNavigationNone"> </div></div></div></div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwColumnSidebar2"><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationTop"> </div><div class="HwElement" id="HwNavigationWrapper"><div class="HwNavigation" id="HwNavigation" role="navigation"><h3 class="HwNavStackHeader" id="HwNavStackHeader">Topic Contents</h3><ul aria-labelledby="HwNavStackHeader"><li id="nav-ncicdr0000315400-01"><a class="HwLinkNavstack" data-hw-type="Nci" data-hw-document-href="ncicdr0000315400" data-hw-section="ncicdr0000315400-01" hw:document-type="Nci" hw:document-href="ncicdr0000315400" data-hwid="ncicdr0000315400" hw:section-href="ncicdr0000315400-01" href="?id=ncicdr0000315400#ncicdr0000315400-01">Stomach Cancer Screening</a></li></ul></div></div><div class="HwNavigationWrapper HwNavigationEmpty"> </div><div class="HwCustom" id="HwCustomNavigationBottom"> </div></div></div></div><div class="HwBlock" id="HwFooter"><div class="HwRow"><div class="HwCustom HwColumn" id="HwCustomFooterLeft"> </div><div class="HwColumn" id="HwFooterLegal"><div class="HwLegal HwElement" role="contentinfo"><div class="HwLogo"><a class="HwLinkExternal" href="https://www.healthwise.org/specialpages/legal/abouthw/en"><img class="HwNoHcMode" data-hw-resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo.png" alt="Click here to learn about Ignite Healthwise, LLC" src="https://ixbapi.healthwise.net/Resource/14.3/en-us/media/interface/hwlogo.png" hw:resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo.png" hw:release-quarter="14.3"><img class="HwHcMode" data-hw-resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" alt="Click here to learn about Ignite Healthwise, LLC" src="https://ixbapi.healthwise.net/Resource/14.3/en-us/media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" hw:resource-path="media/interface/hwlogo_hc.png" hw:release-quarter="14.3"></a></div><div class="HwDisclaimer"><p>This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. 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