About Us

What Is Hope For Stomach Cancer?

Hope For Stomach Cancer is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides resources to patients, caregivers and loved ones while promoting early detection and prevention to the general and medical communities.

Hope creates and facilitates programs that enable those affected by stomach cancer to take actionable steps to live the best possible life through each phase of the disease.

Hope For Stomach Cancer is the dba name for
the Stomach Cancer Awareness Network.

Mission Statement

To provide support, resources and awareness to those affected by stomach cancer.  Through research, early detection and prevention we serve the stomach cancer community, helping to save lives and working to find a cure.

Annual Progress Report

Learn More About Hope For Stomach Cancer.  Download our 2023 Progress Report which also takes a look ahead to 2024.

2023 Progress and 2024 Looking Ahead
2022 Progress and 2023 Looking Ahead
2021 Progress Report - StoCAN dba Hope For Stomach Cancer IMAGE
2021 Progress & 2022 Look Ahead

Our Story

Aki Smith founded Hope For Stomach Cancer with a little help and support from her husband Tom.  

When Aki’s father was diagnosed with advanced stage stomach cancer in December of 2013, her family’s world was turned upside down. Without a clear direction to take or a treatment plan in place, it was a frightening time for them all. 

Limitations were being placed by her father’s health insurance company. And here was a severe lack of stomach cancer research to give them some bearing on what to do next. They quickly realized that beating cancer was going to be a full-time family effort, and one that would require a whole team of dedicated doctors.

Her father had a total gastrectomy (removal of his stomach), followed by chemotherapy, and then five weeks of radiation. Today, he’s in remission, and although they are very lucky, they don’t take his health for granted. They have to remain mindful that with a cancer that aggressive and unpredictable, the outlook could suddenly change.

The entire road has been an incredibly difficult one, but her father has been an inspiration–his strength and courage has made them so proud! They have never given up on hope, and in the silver lining of their darkest moments, Hope for Stomach Cancer was born.

It’s time to find hope for all Stomach Cancers! Take a stand together. Take hope to a new level and make change happen!

Cancer Today Magazine cover with Shigeo And Aki - About Hope For Stomach Cancer
Cancer Today | Spring 2018

Medical Advisory Board

Top gastric cancer experts across multiple disciplines.

Financial Reports

Stomach Cancer Awareness Network financial reporting.

Contact Us

Here's how to reach Hope For Stomach Cancer - phone, email and more.

Board Of Directors

Our BoD has mostly been directly impacted by gastric cancer.

In The News

Here are news stories about and from Hope For Stomach Cancer.