OAKLAND, Calif., May 30, 2000 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- NFL player Eric
Turner, a member of the Oakland Raiders and a four-year letterman at the
University of California, Los Angeles died Sunday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. from
the apparent complications of abdominal cancer.
Since his death, the public and sports community has asked numerous questions
about this type of cancer and its seemingly aggressive nature.
"Now is the time for education," said Dr. Thomas Fogel, a Ventura, California
radiation oncologist and former president of the American Cancer Society's
California Division. "People should talk to their doctor and use this
opportunity as a bridge to talk about nutrition, diet and other prevention
factors," he said.
The following release is a synopsis of current American Cancer Society
information about the disease, risk factors and prevention guidelines. Further
information can be found by calling 800-ACS-2345 or by going online at
www.cancer.org.
Stomach Cancer: What Is It?
Stomach cancer is a cancer that starts in the stomach. The medical name for
stomach cancer is gastric cancer. The stomach is only one of many organs in the
abdomen in which cancers may develop.
It is important not to confuse stomach cancer with cancers of the colon (large
intestine), liver, pancreas, small intestine or gall bladder, because these
cancers may have different symptoms, a different prognosis (outlook for
survival) and different treatments.
Stomach cancers are believed to develop slowly over many years. Before a true
cancer develops, there are usually precancerous changes that occur in the lining
of the stomach. These early changes rarely produce symptoms and therefore often
go undetected.
It is estimated that 21,500 Americans -- 13,400 men and 8,100 women -- will be
diagnosed with stomach cancer during 2000. There will be an estimated 13,000 --
7,600 men and 5,400 women -- deaths from this type of cancer in 2000. Most
people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in their 60s and 70s.
Stomach cancer is much more common in certain Asian, Central European, Central
American, and South American countries, especially Japan, Chile, Costa Rica,
Hungary, and Poland. It is the leading cause of cancer death in many of these
countries and is a major cause of cancer death worldwide.
In the United States, stomach cancer is now only one-fourth as common as it was
in 1930. The reasons for this dramatic decline are not completely known but may
be related to increased use of refrigeration for food storage and decreased use
of salted and smoked foods.
What Are The Risk Factors For Stomach Cancer?
Scientists have found several risk factors that make a person more likely to
develop stomach cancer:
-- Helicobacter pylori infection: Long-term infection of the stomach with this
bacterium may lead to chronic atrophic gastritis (inflammation and damage to the
inner layer of the stomach), a possible precancerous change of the lining of the
stomach. Helicobacter infection is also associated with some types of lymphoma
of the stomach. But the vast majority of people who carry this bacterium in
their stomachs never develop cancer.
-- Dietary causes: An increased risk of stomach cancer is associated with diets
containing large amounts of smoked foods, salted fish and meat, certain foods
high in starch that are also low in fiber and pickled vegetables. On the other
hand, eating whole grain products, fresh fruits and vegetables that contain
vitamins A and C appears to lower the risk of stomach cancer.
-- Nitrates and nitrites are substances commonly found in cured meats, some
drinking water, and certain vegetables. They can be converted by certain
bacteria, such as Helicobacter pylori, into compounds that have been found to
cause stomach cancer in animals.
-- Tobacco and alcohol abuse: These habits can increase stomach cancer risk,
particularly for cancers of the proximal stomach (the upper portion of the
stomach closest to the esophagus).
--Previous stomach surgery: Stomach cancers are more likely to develop in people
who have had part of their stomach removed to treat noncancerous diseases such
as ulcers. This may be because there are more nitrite-producing bacteria
present. Also, acid production goes down after ulcer surgery, and there may be
reflux (backup) of bile from the small intestine into the stomach.
-- Being male: Stomach cancer is about twice as common in men than in women.
-- Aging: There is a sharp increase in stomach cancer after the age of 50. Most
people diagnosed with stomach cancer are in their 60s and 70s.
-- Blood group A: Blood groups refer to certain antigens (chemicals recognized
by the immune system) that are normally present on red blood cells and some
other types of cells. These groups are important in matching blood for
transfusions. For unknown reasons, people with blood group A have a higher risk
of developing stomach cancer.
-- Familial cancer syndromes: Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (Lynch
Syndrome or HNPCC) and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis are inherited genetic
disorders.
-- Family history of stomach cancer: People with several close blood relatives
who have had stomach cancer are more likely to develop this disease.
-- Stomach polyps: Polyps are small bumps or larger mushroom-like growths of the
lining of the stomach. Most types of polyps (like hyperplastic polyps or
inflammatory polyps) do not increase a person's risk of stomach cancer but
adenomatous polyps sometimes develop into gastric (stomach) cancers.
Can Stomach Cancer Be Prevented?
Even though the exact cause of stomach cancer is not completely known, it is
still possible to prevent many stomach cancers.
The dramatic decline of stomach cancer over the last 60 years is thought to be a
result of people reducing many of the known dietary risk factors. This includes
greater use of refrigeration for food storage rather than preservation of foods
by salting, pickling, and smoking. To reduce the risk, people should avoid diets
that are high in smoked and pickled foods and salted meats and fish.
A diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables can also lower stomach cancer risk.
The American Cancer Society recommends choosing most foods from plant sources.
This includes fruits, vegetables, breads, cereals, pasta, rice, and beans.
Tobacco and alcohol use can increase the risk of cancers of the proximal stomach
(the upper portion of the stomach closest to the esophagus). These cancers tend
to be particularly hard to treat successfully. The American Cancer Society
recommends limiting the use of alcoholic beverages, if you drink at all. Tobacco
use increases the risk for many types of cancer and is responsible for about
one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States. If you don't use tobacco,
don't start. If you already do, call your health care provider or the American
Cancer Society for advice about quitting.
It is not yet known if people without symptoms who have chronic infection of
their stomach lining with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori should be treated for
this infection. This issue is a topic of current research.
Signs and Symptoms of Stomach Cancer
Unfortunately patients who have stomach cancer rarely have symptoms in the early
stages of the disease. This is one of the reasons why stomach cancer is so
difficult to detect early.
The signs and symptoms of stomach cancer include:
-- Unintended weight loss and lack of appetite
-- Abdominal pain
-- Vague discomfort in the abdomen, usually above the umbilicus (navel)
-- A sense of fullness in the upper abdomen, just below the chest bone
after eating a small meal. Doctors call this early satiety.
-- Heartburn, indigestion, or ulcer-type symptoms
-- Nausea
-- Vomiting, with or without blood
-- Swelling of the abdomen due to accumulation of fluid and cancer cells.
Doctors call this malignant ascites.
Some of these symptoms can occur with noncancerous conditions such as a stomach
virus or with other types of cancer. However, people who have any of these
problems that persist for a long time should check with their doctor, especially
if they are over 50 years old or have stomach cancer risk factors.
Since symptoms of stomach cancer often do not appear until the disease is
advanced, only about 10% to 20% of stomach cancers in the United States are
found in the early stages, before they have spread to other areas of the body.
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, volunteer health
organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as major health problem by
preventing cancer and saving lives through research, education and patient
service.
SOURCE American Cancer Society
