It Is Possible to Prevent Stomach Cancer in 12 Steps

It is possible to protect ourselves from gastric cancer by quitting smoking and making exercise a habit. Additionally, individuals with stomach complaints should definitely consult a doctor for early detection of gastric cancer," he said.  

Many causes!

Gastric cancer is a type of cancer more commonly seen in men. It is suggested that the estrogen hormone secreted in women protects against gastric cancer. In gastric cancer, where family history is also important, 6 out of 10 patients are over 65 years old. Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy notes that Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which causes ulcers in the stomach, can lead to cancer over the long term, stating: "However, not every patient harboring this microbe in their stomach will develop gastric cancer. Although it is found at a high rate of around 60 percent in our country, gastric cancer is detected in only 1-3 percent of these patients. Treatment of this bacterium reduces the risk of gastric cancer. Additionally, chronic gastritis and stomach polyps are other risk factors." Beside these, salty, smoked and grilled foods; processed meats such as sausage and salami; foods containing aflatoxins (toxins produced by certain mold types); smoking and alcohol consumption also constitute other factors that increase risk. Don't dismiss it as indigestion! General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy warns that gastric cancer generally progresses insidiously without any symptoms in early stages. When symptoms appear in advanced stages, they may include abdominal gas, bloating, nausea, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach area or early satiety, as well as pain developing in the stomach area after meals—complaints that may be mistaken for 'indigestion.' If the cancer is located near the esophagus, 'difficulty swallowing' may occur. Weight loss and loss of appetite generally constitute late-stage findings. Stomach bleeding may also occur. Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy warns that these symptoms, which almost everyone encounters frequently, should not be neglected with the thought that they 'are due to indigestion,' stating: "Individuals developing stomach complaints self-medicating with stomach medications can cause delays in the diagnosis of gastric cancer. Therefore, a doctor should definitely be consulted for stomach complaints."   Protect yourself from gastric cancer in 12 steps! General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy lists the 12 measures you should take to protect yourself from gastric cancer as follows:

• Pay attention to hygiene in food consumption. For example, you should wash vegetables and fruits well before eating and remove chemicals from them.

• Avoid salty, smoked, and processed foods such as sausage and salami.

• Do not neglect consuming fresh vegetables and fruits daily.

• Do not consume foods that are not kept in the refrigerator and have gone stale.

• Pay attention to Mediterranean-type diet.

• Consuming soy, mushrooms, garlic and onions reduces your risk of gastric cancer. Make it a habit to eat these foods regularly.

• Avoid consuming grilled meats.

• Obesity increases the risk of gastric cancer. If you have excess weight, reach your ideal weight with a healthy diet.

• If you have a Helicobacter pylori problem, do not neglect your treatment.

• Exercise is another important factor that reduces risk. Exercise for at least 3-4 days a week, 45 minutes each.

• Smoking increases the risk by 20 percent in women, while this figure rises to 60 percent in men. If you smoke, quit immediately.

• Green and yellow fruits rich in beta-carotene, C and E vitamins reduce the risk of gastric cancer through the antioxidants they contain. Pay attention to consuming these fruits regularly.

 

New hope in treatment

Except for very early stages, gastric cancer is considered a systemic disease. That is, it affects the entire body. For this reason, surgery constitutes only one phase of treatment. The other phase is chemotherapy treatment. General Surgery Specialist Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy states: "As surgical methods continuously develop, successes and hopes in fighting gastric cancer increase as chemotherapy treatment advances. The five-year survival rate for all stages is 32 percent. In early stages, this rate rises to 70 percent." Emphasizing that surgery is the definitive treatment for gastric cancer, Assoc. Prof. Deniz Atasoy continues: "In the past, chemotherapy was generally given after surgery; nowadays it is also applied before surgery depending on the extent of the disease. If the disease has spread beyond the stomach, treatment is started first with chemotherapy. Depending on the response obtained from treatment, surgery is undertaken. In some cases, radiotherapy, known as radiation therapy, may also be necessary. Positive results are being obtained in gastric cancer from different drug treatments such as targeted drugs and immunotherapy. One of the innovations in surgical practice is the application of D2 lymphadenectomy at the same time as stomach removal, which is the procedure of removing and cleaning lymph nodes. By removing lymph nodes that could be potential sites of spread of gastric cancer, the risk of disease recurrence or distant spread after surgery is reduced. Scientific studies have shown that D2 lymphadenectomy application in gastric cancer extends lifespan."