Stomach cancer is most common in China, Japan and Korea

Source: GLOBOCAN 2008 http://globocan.iarc.fr

Stomach cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Around one million cases of stomach cancer were recorded in 2008, accounting for around 8 per cent of all new cancer cases. It is predicted that the number of cases will rise to 1.7 million by 2030. Age-standardised incidence rates are about twice as high in men as in women.

Incidence rates for stomach cancer were highest in Eastern Asia (China, Japan and Korea) and lowest in Africa, Australia, New Zealand and North America. The rate per 100, 000 population was 30 in Eastern Asia. This is double that in Central and Eastern Europe, the region with the next highest incidence. About 6 in 10 new cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed in Eastern Asia (5 in 10 for China and 1 in 10 for Japan).

Stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide (737 000 deaths, 10% of the total). The highest mortality rates are in Eastern Asia and the lowest in Northern America.

Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori is established as a necessary cause of almost all cases of stomach cancer. High rates of this infection have been found in China.

Age standardised incidence rates for stomach cancer 2008