China is a large country with gastric cancer, and nearly half of the world’s gastric cancer patients are in China.
As far as 2015 is concerned, 679,000 people in the country are newly suffering from gastric cancer, and the death toll from gastric cancer has reached 498,000, accounting for 16% and 18% of the total number of cancers respectively.
No matter the number of cases or deaths, gastric cancer is second only to lung cancer, ranking second in malignant tumors.
So in the face of cancer, can we be what?
Can gastric cancer be prevented?
Whether we can prevent it or not, we have to look at the type of gastric cancer first.
1. Diffuse gastric cancer
The occurrence of a small part of gastric cancer is related to gene mutation, which is called diffuse gastric cancer.
This kind of gastric cancer is generally menacing, without warning, and the prognosis is not very good. Many people who suffer from gastric cancer at a young age seen in news reports are basically this diffuse gastric cancer.
It has nothing to do with barbecue and instant noodles. To some extent, it is bad luck.
At this time, gene mutations that may have a genetic family history can be checked and confirmed, and total gastrectomy can be performed preventatively.
Fortunately, diffuse gastric cancer is only a minority, and most of them are intestinal gastric cancer with regular rules.
2. Intestinal gastric cancer
The occurrence of intestinal gastric cancer starts from chronic non-atrophic gastritis, experiences atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and finally develops into intestinal gastric cancer.
This steady and forward change process usually starts with Helicobacter pylori infection and takes more than 40 years.
Since gastric cancer has traces to follow, can we do some what?
According to the change track of intestinal gastric cancer, we can do this:
Step 1: Non-atrophic gastritis (also called superficial gastritis)
Although it is the first step in the occurrence of gastric cancer, simple non-atrophic gastritis does not increase the risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, even if diagnosed with non-atrophic gastritis, there is no need to worry too much.
If there is a family history of gastric cancer at the same time, living in a high incidence area of gastric cancer, gastric ulcer and other gastric cancer risk factors:
- Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is needed. Pay attention to eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and less pickled, smoked and roasted food and high-salt food. Weight control; No smoking.
Step 2: Atrophic gastritis
Since atrophic gastritis, it is called gastric cancer [precancerous lesion].
If atrophic gastritis is diagnosed:
- Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy must be carried out. There are some disputes over whether to review regularly. Simply speaking, this step is still far from gastric cancer. For most atrophic gastritis, it will not eventually become gastric cancer. Too many examinations have failed to confirm the benefits. At present, the domestic consensus only suggests [appropriate] follow-up for atrophic cases.
Step 3: Intestinal metaplasia
Intestinal metaplasia can be divided into complete and incomplete intestinal metaplasia, of which incomplete metaplasia is closer to gastric cancer.
Therefore, when incomplete metaplasia occurs, it is very important to closely monitor gastroscopy. It is recommended once a year.
Step 4: Dysplasia (also called intraepithelial neoplasia or atypical hyperplasia)
It is divided into low-level dysplasia and high-level dysplasia.
Among them, the probability of low-grade final progression to cancer is 0-23%, while that of high-grade is 60-85%, so:
- Low level: continue to carry out strict gastroscopic monitoring; High level: Prophylactic gastroscopic treatment is required.
Gastric cancer is the last step. If the previous prevention work is done well, most people may not come to this step.
What if you don’t know where you are?
In order to minimize the impact of gastric cancer on us, there are several points to pay attention to:
1. Gene testing
This is what very few people need to do. If there are not less than 2 people in the family suffering from gastric cancer, and at least 1 of them is diagnosed with diffuse gastric cancer; Or one person in the family was diagnosed with diffuse gastric cancer before the age of 40. It is recommended to carry out CDH1 gene detection. If mutation is confirmed, gastrectomy can be carried out to prevent diffuse gastric cancer.
2. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy
If the first-degree relatives (parents, children and brothers and sisters) suffer from gastric cancer or live in a high incidence area of gastric cancer, it is recommended to examine and eradicate Helicobacter pylori treatment as adults.
If gastric polyps, gastric ulcers, atrophic gastritis and other precancerous lesions are found by gastroscopy, Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment shall be carried out immediately.
3. Gastric cancer screening
If you smoke, like to eat high-salt pickled smoked and roasted food and belong to the above-mentioned high-risk group for gastric cancer, gastric cancer screening should be carried out after the age of 40.
The screening of gastric cancer recommends the joint examination of Helicobacter pylori and pepsinogen, and whether to carry out gastroscopy is decided according to the examination results.
Step 4: Eat Healthily
Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, control your weight, eat less pickled, smoked and high-salt foods, and do not smoke.
As you can see, although gastric cancer has some random uncontrollable factors, in most cases it still develops according to [steps].
Doing what we can and blocking the devil’s pace are the best way to deal with gastric cancer.