Colorectal cancer is one of the top three causes of cancer-related deaths in Malaysia, making up 16.9% of male cancer cases and 10.7% of female cancer cases [1]. Meanwhile, stomach cancer isn’t far behind, contributing to more than 5,000 deaths related to gastrointestinal cancers in 2023 alone [2].
The tragedy? Many of these cancers are only detected when they’ve already progressed to Stage 3 or 4 — with nearly 32% of colorectal cancer cases diagnosed at Stage 3 (with a 5-year survival rate of just 56%) and 40% at Stage 4, where survival drops to 17% [1]. By this point, treatment not only becomes more invasive and expensive, but also less effective.
But there’s good news: Early detection saves lives. In fact, screening for gut health issues can help detect early signs of bacterial infections like Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) — a major contributor to both stomach cancer and colorectal cancer — before they evolve into life-threatening diseases.
Whether you’re feeling persistent stomach pain, struggling with gastric symptoms, or simply want to stay on top of your digestive health, prioritising your gut health today could make all the difference in your long-term wellbeing.
Everyday Gastric Symptoms Can Signal Bigger Gut Health Risks
Many Malaysians live with what they believe are “normal” gastric issues — indigestion, heartburn, bloating, and gastritis. But these seemingly everyday complaints can sometimes be early indicators of more serious gut health issues, especially when left untreated.
Take gastric ulcers, for example. Often caused by H. pylori infection, they’re not only painful but are a known precursor to stomach cancer if neglected over time [3].
Similarly, an imbalance in your gut bacteria — your microbiome — can lead to chronic inflammation, a key risk factor for both colorectal cancer and gastric cancer. Poor gut health also increases susceptibility to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Not only does IBD impact one’s quality of life with long-term symptoms like diarrhoea and stomach pain, the chronic inflammation caused by IBD can also result in cell mutations that lead to cancer [4, 5, 6].
What Is H. Pylori, and Why Should You Care?
H. pylori is the most common stomach bacteria in the world, infecting about two-thirds of the global population [4]. While lower than the global population, the prevalence in Malaysia is still alarming, affecting more than 20% of adults [7, 8]. H. pylori is spread through direct contact of infected saliva, vomit and/or stool, or via contaminated food and/or water, with crowded living conditions and poor sanitation as prominent risk factors [4].
While many people with H. pylori infections show no symptoms, others may experience symptoms such as [9, 10]:
- Persistent, ongoing stomach pain (in some cases may even disrupt one’s sleep)
- Bloating
- Indigestion
- Black, tarry stools
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of appetite and/or weight
- Fasting gastric discomfort (pain when the stomach is empty)
Many of these symptoms are common, and with no clear symptomatic differences between H. pylori and other digestive health issues, this makes the need for gut health screenings more necessary. Left untreated, H. pylori can cause gastritis, ulcers, and even damage the DNA of your stomach lining — creating a cycle of inflammation that may eventually lead to stomach cancer [5, 10]. It was officially classified as a Type I carcinogen by the World Health Organization in 1994 [11], with a 2017 study stating that H. pylori infections account for 90% of stomach cancers [21].
But that’s not all — studies show that H. pylori doesn’t just affect the stomach, it also plays a role in colorectal cancer. Research indicates that people with untreated H. pylori infections are 23% more likely to develop colorectal cancer, and 40% more likely to die from it, compared to those who get treated [13].
Here’s the kicker: People who treat their H. pylori infection not only reduce their cancer risk by 63%, but after 7–10 years, their risk becomes even lower than that of people who never had the infection in the first place [14]. The protective effect is especially prominent in younger individuals, reinforcing the importance of early screening and early treatment [14].
Why Gut Health Screenings Are Essential
With rising rates of colorectal cancer in Malaysia and increasing reports of gut health issues such as gastritis, regular gut health screenings have never been more important. Many people don’t realise they are living with an H. pylori infection because the symptoms can be subtle or even non-existent.
By screening for H. pylori, you’re not just checking for a bacterial bug—you’re assessing your body’s inflammation levels, testing for precancerous conditions, and spotting warning signs early before they become dangerous. It’s an essential step in monitoring signs of gastrointestinal cancer symptoms like [10]:
- Unintentional weight loss
- Fatigue
- Change in bowel habits
- Bloody or black stools
- A feeling of fullness after eating small meals
Screenings also help determine if symptoms such as indigestion, abdominal discomfort, and burping— often misattributed to diet or stress— are due to a H. pylori infection [15, 10].
Protect Your Health with a Gut Health Screening
Every year, thousands of Malaysians are diagnosed with colon cancer and stomach cancer. But this doesn’t have to be your story. At Qualitas Health, we take a proactive approach to your digestive health.
Our Gut Health Screening includes:
- Doctor Consultation
- Diet & Lifestyle Assessment
- Blood & Urine Investigations:
- Full Blood Count
- Liver & Renal Function Tests
- Lipid Studies
- Fasting Blood Sugar
- Urine FEME
- HBA1C
- H. pylori Urea Breath Test
- Cancer Markers (CEA & CA 19-9)
- Hepatitis B (Ag & Ab)
- Physical Examination:
- Height, Weight & BMI
- Body composition analysis
- Blood Pressure Reading
- Colour Vision & Visual Acuity
This screening is designed to detect gut bacteria imbalances, H. pylori infections, and early signs of gastric ulcer symptoms, stomach bacteria overgrowth, and even tumour markers for gastrointestinal cancers.
Catching these conditions early enables H. pylori treatment, typically a short course of antibiotics and protein pump inhibitors to reduce acid production [16]. Studies have shown that patients who received treatment had up to a 63% lower risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who didn’t [17].
The Key Takeaway…
Stomach cancer and colorectal cancer are largely preventable — if caught early. Gut health screenings are one of the simplest, most effective ways to protect yourself and your loved ones.
They identify hidden threats like H. pylori infections, assess inflammation, and flag warning signs of digestive health issues long before symptoms appear.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Schedule a Gut Health Screening today at your preferred Qualitas Health clinic and take the first step in safeguarding your digestive health.
References
[1] National Strategic Plan for Colorectal Cancer (NSPCRC) 2021 – 2025. (2021). In Portal Rasmi Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Ministry of Health Malaysia. https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Rujukan/NCD/Kanser/National_Strategic_Plan_for_Colorectal_Cancer_(NSPCRC)_2021-2025.pdf
[2] Statistics on Causes of Death, Malaysia, 2024. (2024). In Department of Statistics Malaysia. Ministry of Economy Malaysia. https://www.dosm.gov.my/site/downloadrelease?id=statistics-on-causes-of-death-malaysia-2024&lang=English&admin_view=#:~:text=Cancer%20of%20digestive%20organs%20recorded,Pinang%2C%20Sabah%2C%20Sarawak%20and%20W.P.
[3] Helicobacter pylori. (n.d.-a). Canadian Cancer Society. https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/reduce-your-risk/get-vaccinated/helicobacter-pylori
[4] National Cancer Institute. (2023). Helicobacter pylori and Cancer. National Cancer Institute; Cancer.gov. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/h-pylori-fact-sheet
[5] Reyes, V. E. (2023). Helicobacter pylori and Its Role in Gastric Cancer. Microorganisms, 11(5), 1312–1312. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10220541/
[6] Laredo, V., García-Mateo, S., Martínez-Domínguez, S. J., López de la Cruz, J., Gargallo-Puyuelo, C. J., & Gomollón, F. (2023). Risk of Cancer in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Keys for Patient Management. Cancers, 15(3), 871. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15030871
[7] Chen, Y. C., Malfertheiner, P., Yu, H. T., Kuo, C. L., Chang, Y. Y., Meng, F. T., Wu, Y. X., Hsiao, J. L., Chen, M. J., Lin, K. P., Wu, C. Y., Lin, J. T., Colm O’Morain, Megraud, F., Lee, W. C., El-Omar, E. M., Wu, M. S., & Liou, J. M. (2024). Global prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and incidence of gastric cancer between 1980 and 2022. Gastroenterology, 166(4). https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2023.12.022
[8] Hooi, J. K. Y., Lai, W. Y., Ng, W. K., Suen, M. M. Y., Underwood, F. E., Tanyingoh, D., Malfertheiner, P., Graham, D. Y., Wong, V. W. S., Wu, J. C. Y., Chan, F. K. L., Sung, J. J. Y., Kaplan, G. G., & Ng, S. C. (2017). Global Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Gastroenterology, 153(2), 420–429. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2017.04.022
[9] Helicobacter Pylori. (n.d.-b). Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/helicobacter-pylori
[10] Underferth, D. (2021). H. pylori and your stomach cancer risk. MD Anderson Cancer Center; University of Texas. https://www.mdanderson.org/cancerwise/h–pylori-and-your-stomach-cancer-risk.h00-159460056.html
[11] Schistosomes, liver flukes and Helicobacter pylori. (1994). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, 61, 1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7681621/
[12] Moss, S. F. (2017). The Clinical Evidence Linking Helicobacter pylori to Gastric Cancer. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 3(2), 183–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2016.12.001
[13] Shah, S. C., Camargo, M. C., Lamm, M., Bustamante, R., Roumie, C. L., Wilson, O., Halvorson, A. E., Greevy, R., Liu, L., Gupta, S., & Demb, J. (2024). Impact of Helicobacter pylori Infection and Treatment on Colorectal Cancer in a Large, Nationwide Cohort. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 42(16). https://doi.org/10.1200/jco.23.00703
[14] Li, D., Jiang, S.-F., Nan Ye Lei, Shah, S. C., & Corley, D. A. (2023). Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy on the Incidence of Noncardia Gastric Adenocarcinoma in a Large Diverse Population in the United States. Gastroenterology, 165(2), 391-401.e2. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2023.04.026
[15] Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer. (2024). CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/colorectal-cancer/symptoms/index.html
[16] Randel, A. (2018). H. pylori Infection: ACG Updates Treatment Recommendations. American Family Physician, 97(2), 135–137. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/0115/p135.html
[17] Rochman, S. (2023). Treating common stomach bacteria reduces risk of stomach cancer. Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. https://divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org/treat-hpylori-reduce-stomach-cancer/