American scientists piecing together what causes stomach cancer uncovered three culprits: too much drinking, processed meat and being overweight.
A new report out of the American Institute for Cancer Research is warning that all three factors are tied to other cancers too, but it’s the first time research has made this particular link.
Here’s what they found increases the risk of stomach cancer:
- Drinking three or more alcoholic drinks (more than 1.5 ounces of pure alcohol) per day, every day. This risk is most apparently in men, as well as in smokers and ex-smokers.
- Every 1.8 (50 grams) of processed meat eaten per day, every day (about the equivalent of a hot dog) increases risk of lower stomach cancers by 18 per cent. The scientists say this finding builds on dozens of studies sounding the alarm on processed meat and colorectal cancer.
- Being overweight or obese is tied to increased risk of upper stomach cancers. The report suggests a 23 per cent increased risk of these cancers for every five-unit-increase in BMI.
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The report is based on 89 studies that zeroed in on stomach cancers. In total, 17.5 million people were involved, and 77,000 ended up with the disease.
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The authors say that in the U.S., 15 per cent – or one in seven – stomach cancer cases could be prevented if people didn’t drink more than three alcoholic beverages per day, if they cut back on processed meat and if they maintained a healthy weight.
There are two main types of stomach cancers.
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The top portion of the stomach, where it meets the esophagus, is called the cardia. Cardia stomach cancers are most common in high-income countries. It’s tied to excess weight gain putting pressure on the abdomen, which pinches the sphincter at the top of the stomach and causes acid to escape.
Non-cardia cancer involves the rest of the stomach.
Read the full report.
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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