Stomach cancer awareness

Stomach Cancer is currently the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide with 1,000,000 new cases diagnosed each year. In the UK there were around 7000 cases diagnosed in 2013.

It is nearly twice as common in men as in women and smokers and the over 55s are at higher risk. As with many cancers lifestyle plays a big role in the development of stomach cancer and it is estimated that up to 50% of cases could be prevented if people didn’t smoke, ate less salt and more fruit and vegetables especially allium vegetables e.g. leeks and onions.

‘No Stomach for Cancer’ is an organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, which is also focused on advancing awareness and education about stomach cancer, including Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC), providing a support network for affected families, and supporting research efforts for the prevention, screening, early detection, and treatment of stomach cancer.

They feel that the biggest challenge for stomach cancer treatment and prevention is the lack of public awareness. More information about stomach cancer can be found on their website or the WCRF website.

Further reading

This article was originally published in the SCPN Newsletter Volume 7, Issue 2. Read the full issue here, or read the digital edition below (great full screen on mobiles).