Stomach cancer second biggest killer in India

The new study from Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) on cancer mortality in India has rightly focused public attention on the perils of consuming tobacco. Tobacco has emerged as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Indian men. However, the second largest cause of cancer-related deaths among both Indian men and women is stomach or gastric cancer.

Twenty-five thousand two hundred men and 27,500 women die of gastric cancer every year in India. 

According to experts, the high rate of the cancer is diet and lifestyle related. “In many places in India the diet is low in fibre content. Spicy food and lots of non-vegetarian food can cause the chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, which if left untreated can turn cancerous,” said Mahesh Goel, associate professor in gastro-intestinal oncology at TMC.

There are other diet related causes too. “Malnutrition causes the hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach to burn the stomach lining and cause gastroenteritis. If this condition is exacerbated then it can cause cancer. So, gastric cancer definitely affects the lower socio-economic classes. But this does not mean that the affluent classes are spared from stomach cancer.” said Shailesh Shrikhande, HoD of gastro-intestinal cancer surgery at TMC.

Stress, smoking and alchoholism also contribute towards a high rate of the disease. “Smoking especially increases the chances of stomach cancer,” said Goel.

Mis-diagnosis or late diagnosis are important factors. “Often, the cancer is diagnosed when the tumour is fairly large and the patient is in a late stage of the disease. If a person has repeated acidity or stomach pains then it’s very important for the general practitioner to suggest that the patient goes in for a gastroscopy to see if there is a tumour,” said Shrikhande.The other way to diagnose stomach cancer at an early stage is to check the hemoglobin count in men which should be between 12 and 14.

Lack of awareness too contributes to late diagnosis. In India, there are no guidelines for diagnosis of the disease.