Protecting Military Families From a Preventable Cancer Risk: Announcing the H. pylori Get Tested campaign
In recognition that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the leading cause of stomach cancer, Debbie’s Dream Foundation is leading an H. pylori Get Tested campaign, a national initiative to raise awareness of H. pylori and advance prevention-focused strategies for service members, veterans, and their families.
By connecting military and veteran communities with education and bringing together healthcare leaders, researchers, military stakeholders, veteran-serving organizations, and advocates, DDF is working to increase awareness, encourage informed conversations about testing, and advance opportunities for stomach cancer prevention and early detection.
[Donate to the H. pylori Get Tested Campaign →]
Why H. pylori Matters
H. pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections worldwide. Many people can carry the infection for years without symptoms. In some people, long-term infection can cause chronic inflammation, ulcers, and changes to the stomach that increase the risk of stomach cancer. In fact, sixty percent of all stomach cancer cases in the U.S. are caused by the infection, and 80 percent worldwide.
Unlike many stomach cancer risk factors, H. pylori infection can be identified and treated. Current clinical guidelines recommend testing for H. pylori in a number of circumstances, including for people with certain stomach conditions and those at increased risk for gastric cancer. Service members, including those deployed overseas, can have an increased risk.
Know the Risk. Get Tested.
H. pylori often causes no symptoms, which means someone may have the infection without knowing it. Testing can identify an active infection, and people who test positive can be treated. Successful treatment can reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer.
If you’re a service member, veteran, or military family member, learn about H. pylori and talk with your healthcare professional about your individual risk and whether testing is appropriate for you.
[Learn About H. pylori, Risk & Testing →]
Why Focus on Military & Veteran Communities?
Military service can involve circumstances that make H. pylori awareness particularly relevant, including deployments to regions with higher prevalence and shared or close living environments. Household contact can also play a role in transmission. Research suggests that roughly one-quarter of U.S. veterans may be at risk for chronic H. pylori infection, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes stomach cancer as a potential service-connected condition in certain exposure-related cases.
DDF’s H. pylori Get Tested campaign seeks to increase awareness among service members, veterans, and their families while supporting broader conversations about testing, prevention, and early detection.
Advancing Prevention Through Advocacy
For nearly 15 years, DDF has led advocacy efforts on the Hill, resulting in approximately $130 million per year for stomach cancer research funding through the National Cancer Institute and the Department of War. This research is helping to provide answers our community urgently needs, including not only H. pylori, but also genetic risk factors, the rising incidence of stomach cancer in younger populations, and new approaches to other prevention methods, early detection tools, and treatment. DDF is also working to establish H. pylori testing protocols for the military as a first step in establishing them for the broader community.
Learn More About Our Advocacy Efforts →
Save the Date: DDF’s H. pylori Get Tested campaign formally launches March 2, 2027
DDF’s H. pylori Get Tested campaign will officially launch in Washington, D.C., during an event held on March 2, 2027, in collaboration with several of our partner organizations and sponsors.
[Sponsor Our H. pylori Get Tested Event On March 2, 2027 →]
Partner With DDF
- DDF is seeking strategic partners to help fund the H. pylori Get Tested campaign.[Sponsor Our Ongoing H. pylori Get Tested Campaign →]
- Are you a service member, veteran, military family member, or connected to a military or veteran organization? Help DDF expand the reach of the H. pylori Get Tested campaign. Your experience and connections can help us reach military and veteran communities, identify potential collaborators, and strengthen awareness of H. pylori and stomach cancer prevention. [I Want to Get Involved →]
- We invite all those concerned about stomach cancer to join us at DDF’s Hill Day on March 1-2, 2027, in Washington, DC, as we advocate for these and other priorities. No experience is necessary – you just need a willingness to share your story. To learn more and join this empowering event, click here.
DDF Joins the Got Your 6 Network
DDF has joined the Bob Woodruff Foundation’s Got Your 6 Network, a national network of more than 500 organizations committed to supporting veterans, service members, and their families. Through the network, DDF is connecting with organizations and leaders across the military and veteran community and participating in educational and collaborative events — strengthening the reach of the H. pylori Get Tested campaign.