Stomach cancer previvor: Why I promote genetic testing
September 28, 2026
Story highlights
- Ashley Zaldivar only learned she carried the CDH1 mutation after a second close relative was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
- She resisted having her own stomach removed until her mother died of the disease.
- Now, she promotes genetic testing to boost awareness of CDH1.
In 2008, my eldest sister died of stomach cancer. She was only 31. But her California doctor told our family we were “lucky,” because this particular type of cancer was extremely rare and not hereditary.
You can imagine how surprised we all were when my mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer 15 years later — and her doctor asked why none of us had ever undergone genetic testing.
That comment prompted the rest of us to get tested right away. We discovered that my mom and I carry the CDH1 mutation, which significantly increased our risk of developing both stomach cancer and lobular carcinoma, a type of breast cancer.
Knowing this gives me a slight advantage when it comes to cancer prevention. But I still wish we’d all gotten tested sooner.
How I got to UT MD Anderson
I was 40 when I found out I carried the CDH1 mutation. The standard of care is to have your stomach removed, a procedure called a prophylactic total gastrectomy. But I didn’t want to do that.
Instead, I decided to start getting frequent upper endoscopies. I told myself that as long as my doctors in Dallas couldn’t find any cancer, I was in the clear.
The first problem is that’s not how this cancer really works. With CDH1, it’s not a matter of “if,” but more of “when” it will be found. Plus, the cancer may lay dormant for years — even decades — before it becomes active. So, the cells were likely already in my stomach. It’s just that no one had found them yet.
The other problem was that none of my local doctors would perform the necessary endoscopies. One said I’d bleed out if he actually took the number of biopsy samples required to do this procedure properly. Another agreed to do one reluctantly, but admitted afterward that she wasn’t really equipped to handle what I had, so she didn’t want to do another. I needed a specialist.
My stomach cancer diagnosis
My colleagues urged me to go to UT MD Anderson. My doctors in Dallas did, too. So, when my husband got transferred to a position in south Texas that was closer to Houston, I thought, “Maybe this is a sign.” I swallowed my fear and called UT MD Anderson.
There, I learned that Dr. Paul Mansfield is a leader in CDH1 research. I also learned that I already had precancerous cell changes in my stomach. He found them during my very first endoscopy with him in November 2024. They were in the exact same spot that my mother’s cancer had taken root.
Why I finally got a total gastrectomy
Given my mother and sister’s aggressive cancers, Dr. Mansfield recommended I consider a total gastrectomy. Since they had both developed advanced gastric cancer, my risk of developing it and dying from it was significantly increased. But I still didn’t want to take that step.
Before I could make any treatment decisions, though, my mother’s health took a turn. She ended up dying in March 2025. I was devastated.
I finally changed my mind about the surgery while keeping vigil by her bedside. If my mom had known about this mutation sooner, maybe she and my sister could’ve gotten the surgery, too, and they might still be alive today.
I couldn’t let their deaths be in vain. So, I agreed to let surgical oncologist Dr. Naruhiko Ikoma remove my stomach at UT MD Anderson. He performed that procedure on Dec. 11, 2025. I’ve been cancer-free and thriving ever since, savoring life with my husband and twin boys, and exploring the world through my work in luxury travel.
Paying it forward
I remember coming across survivor Marne Shafer’s story on the Cancerwise blog when I was still researching experts on CDH1. She talked about running a marathon after having her stomach removed. Her story was what made me realize, “OK. You can still have a life after this.”
That’s why I’m sharing my story here on Cancerwise. It’s also why I’m planning to get my teenage sons tested as soon as possible. And, it’s why the first thing out of my mouth whenever anyone mentions stomach cancer now is, “Have you gotten genetic testing yet?”
If the answer is no, then I urge people to talk to their doctor about it ASAP — and not wait to get it, if it’s recommended. If not for yourself, then do it for your kids. Because knowledge is power. And, that information is invaluable.
Request an appointment at UT MD Anderson online or call 1-877-632-6789.
If not for yourself, then do it for your kids.
Ashley Zaldivar
Caregiver & Previvor