A growing number of Chileans under 40 years of age are diagnosed with gastric cancer, according to recently released figures by the National Institute of Statistic (INE).

The INE reports that over 5,000 Chileans are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year.  Fifty percent are under 40, a four percent rise since the 1970s.

The INE also found that the incidence of gastric cancer among women grew from 30 to 40 percent in the past three decades.

Experts say the cancer has mutated, is more dangerous, and now affects much younger people. The cancer is associated with a bacterium known as Helicobacter, which usually affects people over 60.

The cancer occurs in the large intestine when new, unneeded cells form and when old cells do not die. These extra cells form a tumor and the cancer then spreads into the stomach. A stomach tumor may then grow through the stomach's outer layer into nearby organs, including the pancreas, esophagus, or intestine.

Studies suggest that people who eat smoked, salted, pickled, or spicy foods may be at greater risk. A diet of fresh fruits and vegetables is believed to protect against this disease.

“The cancer is mostly caused by a substandard diet, but also people who smoke are more likely to develop stomach cancer than people who do not smoke,” said Attila Csendes, a Chilean surgeon and medical leader. “A further factor is family history: 10 percent of Chile’s cases are hereditary. On the other hand, people who develop the disease sometimes have no known risk factors.”

Another complicating factor is that Chileans do not usually seek medical help when the disease is in its early stages.

“If people seek out medical treatment at the early stages of the illness, 95 percent of cases would be cured,” said Dr. Nicolas Jarufe.

“When the tumor is approximately one centimeter large, tissue is removed by inserting an endoscope into the esophagus,” explained Dr. Patricio Burdiles. “But in more advanced cases, the treatment requires removal of most of the stomach.

Burdiles recommends that adults over 40 should undergo a check up once every 5 years or annually for those with a family history of gastric cancer.

SOURCES: LA TERCERA, BBC, NATION CANCER INSTITUTE
By Paul Herbert ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )