Stomach Cancer

 

Also known as gastric cancer, it usually develops from the lining of the stomach where parietal cells that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor (IF) grow out of control.

Stomach cancer mostly affects older people, and men are more likely than women to develop it. Until the late 1930s, it was the leading cause of cancer death in the United States but today, it has declined significantly. The decline may very well be linked to better and higher standards on food sanitation and health regulations, as well as the frequent use of antibiotics to treat infections. Powerful antibiotics can now kill the insidious, helically-shaped bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), which is thought to be a major cause of gastric ulcers and stomach cancer. This bacteria is very unique in its ability to activate its own cytoplasmic urease (which converts urea into carbon dioxide and ammonia), thus neutralizing the gastric acid (HCl) and allowing it to survive inside the body even for a person’s entire lifetime.

There is a strong correlation between maintaining a diet high in smoked and salted meats (cured meats) and having a long history of GERD. Below is a list of common risk factors of stomach cancer, including but not limited to…

Risk Factors:

• Being Male
  • Men are twice as likely to get stomach cancer as women
• Smoking
  • Especially affects the upper portion of the stomach near the esophagus
• Increasing Age
  • People over age 50 are much more likely to get this, but most who are diagnosed with this type of cancer are between their late 60’s and 80’s
• Race / Ethnicity
  • In the US, Hispanics, African Americans, Native Americans, and Asian/Pacific Islanders are more likely than Caucasians
• Having Any of the Following Diseases or Infections:
  • H pylori
    • Major cause
    • Long-term infection can lead to other serious conditions, such as chronic atrophic gastritis or mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) / Acid Reflux / Chronic Heartburn
    • Major cause
    • See Esophageal Cancer
  • Pernicious (Vitamin B12 Deficiency) Anemia
  • Ménétrier’s Disease
• Diet
  • High intake of smoked foods, salted fish and meat (cured meats), and pickled vegetables; low intake of fruits and vegetables
    • Nitrates and nitrites are substances commonly found in cured meats and can be converted by certain bacteria, such as H pylori
• Obesity
• Having Previous Stomach Surgery
• Having Type A Blood
• Heredity / Family History