Stomach cancer is also called gastric cancer. Fortunately in India, the incidence of stomach cancer is lower than the reported cases in the USA. Every year, nearly 34, 000 Indians are diagnosed with stomach cancer, with the disease more prevalent in men than in women.
There are some risk factors for developing stomach cancer. Knowing the risk factors will help you adopt preventive measures to avoid the disease. For example, having a healthy diet is one of the smartest ways to lessen your risk of having stomach cancer.
Like in cases of most cancers, oncologists at the best hospital for cancer treatment in Kolkata cannot explain why some persons develop gastric cancer and others don’t. Gastric cancer can form in any part of stomach. This cancer undergoes slow development over years and people rarely experience symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, stomach cancer is often detected when it reaches metastatic stage or terminal stage.
Stomach cancer still remains the fourth most common type of cancer in India though the incidence of this cancer has dipped globally. It is the third most common cancer in Indian men.
Stomach cancer is often associated with some known risk factors. Some risk factors are controllable whereas others are not. For example, smoking tobacco products and taking unhealthy diets are things that you can control whereas family history of stomach cancer is not within your control.
Remember that avoiding risk factors does not give a guarantee that you will not have stomach cancer. Many people with high risks don’t get the disease. Researchers are trying to find out the clues to why some people develop stomach cancer whereas others don’t despite having similar risk factors.
Prevention Tips for Stomach Cancer
You can always reduce your risks of developing stomach cancer. Here are some tips for you:
Eat Healthy Diet: Eat foods rich in fibre, vitamin A and vitamin C to lower your risk of stomach cancer.
Reduce Salt Intake: Reducing salt intake not only helps lower your blood pressure but also curbs your risk of developing stomach cancer. Therefore, reduce or restrict the amount of salt you add to your food.
Include Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet: Try to decorate your plate with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges etc have anti-carcinogenic properties.
Give up Smoking: Quitting smoking is one of the healthiest choices you can make in your life. Smoking not only increases the risk of lung cancer but also puts you at a higher risk of developing many types of cancer including cancer in stomach, head and neck, esophagus, larynx, pancreas, kidney and bladder.
Limit Your Alcohol Intake: If possible, quit alcohol consumption. If you cannot, limit alcohol intake.
Say No to Processed Foods: Processed foods are linked to cancer. Avoid salted fish and meat, pickled and smoked foods.
Maintain a Healthy Weight: Are you obese or overweight? Talk to your doctor about how to lose weight.
If there is any history of stomach cancer in your family, visit a cancer special hospital in Kolkata and talk to oncologists if you should undergo any regular tests for early detection of cancerous tumour or pre-cancerous cells.