Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act

This bill focuses on preventing and finding stomach cancer earlier. It tells the National Cancer Institute to review who gets stomach cancer, key risks like H. pylori infection, how well screening works, and how aware people are about symptoms and prevention, then report back within 18 months with advice on who counts as “high risk,” how to spot them, setting routine screening guidelines, and ways to improve research, prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. The bill also notes there are thousands of new cases each year and gaps in outcomes across different groups, and says better awareness and screening could help catch cancer sooner.

It also requires the Department of Defense to study stomach cancer in service members and veterans, including possible links to burn pits, chemicals, contaminated water, and infections like H. pylori. The study must look at disparities, the availability of screening and treatment in the military and VA systems, coordinate with national cancer registries, and report findings and policy ideas within 18 months, including how to build stomach cancer awareness and screening into military and VA care.

• Who is affected: People at high risk for stomach cancer, the general public, service members, veterans, and their health providers .
• What changes: Federal reviews and studies that could lead to screening guidelines, better outreach and education, and improved prevention and early detection in both civilian and military health systems .
• When: Both reports are due within 18 months of the bill becoming law .