Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act

Bill: 118-hr-9304
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Caraveo, Yadira [D-CO-8]
Introduced: 2024-08-06
Policy area: Health
Latest action: action_date: 2024-08-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9304 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 6, 2024 Ms. Caraveo (for herself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require the Director of the National Cancer Institute to conduct a review of the current state of stomach cancer incidence, prevention, screening, awareness, and future public health importance, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Stomach Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Act . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Stomach cancer accounts for about 1.5 percent of all new cancers diagnosed in the United States each year. (2) It is estimated that there will be nearly 27,000 new cases of stomach cancer in 2024. (3) There are disparities in stomach cancer incidence and mortality among racial and ethnic groups in the United States. (4) While there has been a decline in stomach cancer incidence, the lack of awareness and focus on risk factors and early detection through screening and surveillance may cause individuals at high risk for the disease to dismiss their symptoms. (5) Establishing a basis for stomach cancer prevalence, awareness, current screening, and implications for future public health importance will allow for— (A) more effective outreach and screening among individuals at risk; (B) increased awareness and education among the general public to prevent stomach cancer; and (C) increased awareness and education among health care providers regarding gastric cancer disparities, screening, treatment, and monitoring. 3. NCI review on current state of stomach cancer incidence, prevention, screening, awareness, and future public health importance (a) Review The Director of the National Cancer Institute shall conduct a review of— (1) the current incidence of stomach cancer in the United States; (2) the risk factors for stomach cancer, including the incidence of such risk factors among high-risk populations and the general public; (3) the optimal age range to test for and treat Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, as a risk factor, for the purpose of primary prevention in high-risk populations and the general population; (4) the availability and frequency of screening for stomach cancer, including utilization and effectiveness, among high-risk populations; (5) the availability and effectiveness of endoscopic screenings in high-risk populations; (6) the availability and effectiveness of endoscopic resection and surveillance endoscopy for patients with confirmed gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) with high-grade dysplasia and early gastric cancer; (7) the benefits of surveillance endoscopy for patients at elevated risk, including patients with gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) who are at increased risk of gastric cancer due to ethnic background, family history, or other risk stratification parameters such as smoking and H. pylori infection; (8) current awareness and education about stomach cancer risk factors, prevention, symptoms, screening, and treatment options among high-risk populations and the general public; and (9) current Federal efforts to increase awareness and education of stomach cancer among high-risk populations and the general public. (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Cancer Institute shall— (1) submit to the Congress a report on the results of the review under subsection (a); and (2) include in such report recommendations for— (A) establishing a clear definition of high-risk populations in the United States; (B) informing researchers, clinicians, physicians, patients, and other relevant stakeholders on— (i) identifying high-risk individuals; and (ii) effective methods for detecting precancerous lesions and early gastric cancer; (C) establishing routine screening guidelines for stomach cancer; and (D) actions to improve research on, prevention and early diagnosis of, and screening and treatment for stomach cancer.