Breaking the Treatment Bottleneck: From “Difficult to Treat Late-Stage” to “Curable Early-Stage”

The malignancy of gastric cancer is closely linked to its stage. Early-stage cancer, often confined to the mucosal layer, can be completely removed through minimally invasive endoscopic procedures such as ESD or EMR. These treatments offer minimal trauma, fast recovery, and a very low recurrence rate.

Socioeconomic Benefits: Reducing Personal Burden and Optimizing Medical Resources

Early screening for gastric cancer dramatically reduces treatment costs—early-stage interventions may cost only a few hundred to a few thousand yuan, whereas late-stage treatments can exceed hundreds of thousands, often with limited efficacy. Painless gastroscopy is a low-cost screening tool. Early detection, diagnosis, and treatment help lower the proportion of advanced cases.

Targeting High-Risk Groups to Build a Prevention and Control System

1、Widespread early screening is a key step toward health equity: High-risk groups—those over 40, with a family history, or infected with Helicobacter pylori—should undergo regular screening.
2、China’s "Healthy China 2030" plan sets clear goals: raise the early diagnosis rate for gastrointestinal cancers to 20% and increase the five-year survival rate to 50%.
3、Achieving these targets requires a multi-pronged approach:
4、Public education and mindset shift: Overcome fears of pain, cost, and diagnosis by promoting the idea that screening is essential even in the absence of symptoms. Establish full-cycle management: From screening and diagnosis to treatment and recovery, enhancing the overall effectiveness of early detection.
5、Early screening is key to reversing the high incidence and mortality of gastric cancer. With technological innovation, supportive policies, and collaborative societal efforts, a nationwide early detection system can save countless lives and reduce late-stage disease and healthcare costs at the source.