Clipping Board » Illness Enters through Mouth ─ The information that has been made public is often just the tip of the iceberg...
2010-09-21 Breaking News, Central News Agency
The survival rate for gastric cancer has decreased over the past decade instead of improving. Some patients are diagnosed in their 20s, while others delay treatment due to fear of gastroscopy. As people enjoy barbecuing during the Mid-Autumn Festival, doctors warn that grilled and pickled foods harm the digestive system, while fresh fruits and vegetables help fight cancer and maintain health.
Dr. Zhang Zhengxiong from the Hematology and Oncology Department of Changhua Christian Hospital said today that many Taiwanese avoid gastroscopy and rely on over-the-counter stomach medications due to aggressive advertising. As a result, 45% of gastric cancer patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has metastasized, with only 20% detected at stages 1 or 2.
A blogger named Summerbaby wrote on Wretch Blog that she ate fried chicken and grilled foods as late-night snacks daily since her student days. Even after starting work, she continued eating them frequently, along with spicy hot pot, favoring heavily salted foods. Despite frequent midnight stomach pain, she assumed it was an ulcer and self-medicated with over-the-counter drugs. Unexpectedly, she vomited blood in July this year, alarming her family. Hospital tests revealed stage 3 gastric cancer—she was only 26.
Having never been seriously ill before, Summerbaby, now with only one-third of her stomach left, said she no longer dares to eat fried chicken and has replaced barbecuing this Mid-Autumn Festival with hot pot and vegetable-based meals.
Another case is 58-year-old Ms. Wang, a typical age for gastric cancer onset. Early this year, she began experiencing difficulty swallowing, only able to sip water slowly, with discomfort even as water passed through her digestive tract. Assuming it was indigestion and fearing medical exams, she delayed seeking help until tests confirmed metastatic gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan. According to Ministry of Health and Welfare data from 1994 to 2003, the five-year survival rate for male patients dropped from 35.59% to 35.37%, while for females, it declined from 38.2% to 37.4%.
Early symptoms of gastric cancer, such as bloating, acid reflux, and nausea, are easily mistaken for gastritis or ulcers. Dr. Zhang recommends that people over 50 include gastroscopy in routine check-ups, while younger individuals should avoid overeating and limit grilled and pickled foods.
Regarding treatment, Dr. Wu Qiuwen, Director of General Surgery at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that surgical removal of cancerous tissue is the primary method. Recently approved oral chemotherapy drugs can serve as adjuvant therapy post-surgery or treat inoperable cases.
Additionally, Dr. Zhang noted that recent studies show HER2-positive gastric cancer patients may benefit from breast cancer-targeted drugs, now also approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for such cases. 990921
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0518+132010092101096,00. html
Slight Drop in Stomach Cancer Survival Rate, High Risk from Grilled Food
The survival rate for gastric cancer has decreased over the past decade instead of improving. Some patients are diagnosed in their 20s, while others delay treatment due to fear of gastroscopy. As people enjoy barbecuing during the Mid-Autumn Festival, doctors warn that grilled and pickled foods harm the digestive system, while fresh fruits and vegetables help fight cancer and maintain health.
Dr. Zhang Zhengxiong from the Hematology and Oncology Department of Changhua Christian Hospital said today that many Taiwanese avoid gastroscopy and rely on over-the-counter stomach medications due to aggressive advertising. As a result, 45% of gastric cancer patients are diagnosed only after the cancer has metastasized, with only 20% detected at stages 1 or 2.
A blogger named Summerbaby wrote on Wretch Blog that she ate fried chicken and grilled foods as late-night snacks daily since her student days. Even after starting work, she continued eating them frequently, along with spicy hot pot, favoring heavily salted foods. Despite frequent midnight stomach pain, she assumed it was an ulcer and self-medicated with over-the-counter drugs. Unexpectedly, she vomited blood in July this year, alarming her family. Hospital tests revealed stage 3 gastric cancer—she was only 26.
Having never been seriously ill before, Summerbaby, now with only one-third of her stomach left, said she no longer dares to eat fried chicken and has replaced barbecuing this Mid-Autumn Festival with hot pot and vegetable-based meals.
Another case is 58-year-old Ms. Wang, a typical age for gastric cancer onset. Early this year, she began experiencing difficulty swallowing, only able to sip water slowly, with discomfort even as water passed through her digestive tract. Assuming it was indigestion and fearing medical exams, she delayed seeking help until tests confirmed metastatic gastric cancer.
Gastric cancer ranks as the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in Taiwan. According to Ministry of Health and Welfare data from 1994 to 2003, the five-year survival rate for male patients dropped from 35.59% to 35.37%, while for females, it declined from 38.2% to 37.4%.
Early symptoms of gastric cancer, such as bloating, acid reflux, and nausea, are easily mistaken for gastritis or ulcers. Dr. Zhang recommends that people over 50 include gastroscopy in routine check-ups, while younger individuals should avoid overeating and limit grilled and pickled foods.
Regarding treatment, Dr. Wu Qiuwen, Director of General Surgery at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, stated that surgical removal of cancerous tissue is the primary method. Recently approved oral chemotherapy drugs can serve as adjuvant therapy post-surgery or treat inoperable cases.
Additionally, Dr. Zhang noted that recent studies show HER2-positive gastric cancer patients may benefit from breast cancer-targeted drugs, now also approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare for such cases. 990921
Source: http:/ / life. chinatimes. com/ 2……0518+132010092101096,00. html