Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 5: Stomach cancer, traditionally associated with older adults, is increasingly drawing attention because of diagnoses among people in their 20s, 30s and 40s. While everyday food choices such as instant noodles, spicy dishes and processed meals are often blamed, doctors say the causes are more complex and involve a combination of infections, genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures and lifestyle factors.
According to Dr Sunny Jain, Clinical Director, Medical Onco-Sciences and Head of Medical Oncology at Marengo Asia Hospital, Faridabad, the trend of gastric cancer among younger adults is concerning, although the increase is not uniform across countries and populations.
There is no single explanation for why younger people develop stomach cancer. Spicy food, for instance, is not an established direct cause of the disease. Eating chillies may aggravate acidity, acid reflux or indigestion in some individuals, but this does not mean they cause cancer.
Similarly, instant noodles cannot be considered a direct cancer-causing food. However, regularly consuming highly processed meals, along with diets rich in salt, processed meats and preserved foods and low in fruits and vegetables, may contribute to unhealthy dietary patterns associated with a higher risk of gastric cancer.
One of the most important established risk factors is Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a bacterial infection that can develop during childhood and remain in the stomach for years. The infection can cause chronic inflammation and gradually damage the stomach lining. In some individuals, this may progress through conditions such as gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, eventually increasing the risk of cancer. However, most people infected with H. pylori do not develop stomach cancer.
Genetic susceptibility is another important consideration, particularly among younger patients. Inherited mutations in genes such as CDH1 and CTNNA1 are associated with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Other genes, including MLH1, MSH2, BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM and PALB2, may also be relevant in certain hereditary cancer syndromes.
A family history of stomach cancer, particularly when a close relative was diagnosed at a young age, should not be ignored. People with such histories may benefit from discussing genetic counselling and appropriate risk assessment with their doctors.
The scale of the issue is reflected in global estimates based on the GLOBOCAN 2022 database, presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. Approximately 80,885 people aged between 20 and 49 were diagnosed with gastric cancer worldwide in 2022. Asia accounted for the largest share, with an estimated 54,869 cases in this age group. Around 51,259 people aged 20–49 died from the disease worldwide.
Several lifestyle factors may also contribute to stomach cancer risk. These include frequent consumption of processed meats and excessively salty or preserved foods, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, smoking and heavy alcohol consumption. Obesity, particularly in cancers affecting the upper part of the stomach, and physical inactivity associated with metabolic disturbances may also play a role.
These risk factors do not mean that everyone with such habits will develop cancer. However, reducing avoidable exposures and maintaining healthier habits can contribute to lowering long-term risks.
Stomach cancer can be difficult to identify in its early stages because its symptoms often resemble common digestive complaints. Persistent upper abdominal pain or discomfort, unexplained weight loss, feeling full after eating small quantities, continuing nausea or vomiting and loss of appetite are among the symptoms that require medical attention.
Other warning signs include anaemia or unexplained iron deficiency, black stools, vomiting blood and progressively worsening difficulty in swallowing.
Occasional acidity or indigestion does not automatically indicate cancer. However, persistent, worsening or unexplained symptoms should not be dismissed or repeatedly treated with over-the-counter medicines without medical advice.
Although not all risk factors can be prevented, certain measures may help reduce the likelihood of developing the disease. Testing for and appropriately treating H. pylori when medically indicated is particularly important. Doctors also recommend limiting excessive salt and processed meat consumption, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy body weight.
Individuals with a strong family history of stomach cancer, especially cases diagnosed at a young age, should seek medical advice about genetic counselling and appropriate screening or monitoring.
The key message from doctors is that stomach cancer cannot simply be attributed to spicy food or occasional consumption of instant noodles. Understanding the role of bacterial infections, inherited genetic risks and long-term dietary and lifestyle patterns is far more important. Persistent digestive symptoms should be medically evaluated rather than automatically dismissed as acidity or indigestion.