
28/11/2024
Did you know?
November is the month for Stomach Cancer awareness.
Stomach Cancer is also known as gastric cancer. It is estimated that 4,200 Canadians will be diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2024, and the 5-year net survival rate is 29%
Some risk factors include:
- Infection with Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori)
- Diet (e.g. high consumption of red, smoked, cured or processed meat, high salt and nitrate diet)
- High body mass index and obesity
- Cigarette smoking
- Previous exposure to radiation
- Previous stomach surgery
- Family history
- Other genetic factors (Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC), Lynch syndrome, Familial Adenomatous polyposis (FAP), BRCA-gene mutation, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome)
- Stomach conditions (Chronic atrophic gastritis, Intestinal metaplasia, Gastric epithelial dysplasia, Adenomatous gastric polyps, Pernicious anemia, Ménétrier disease)
We encourage stomach cancer screening in people with increased risk, which may include blood and stool tests, endoscopy, CT imaging scan, biopsy, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).
You can also get involved by participating in the Stomach Cancer Star campaign, volunteer, and also making changes in your lifestyle that might help reduce chances of developing stomach cancer!
All resources are from the Canadian Cancer Society, and the Stomach Cancer foundation of Canada.