Risk Factors for Stomach cancer

List of Risk Factors for Stomach cancer

The list of risk factors mentioned for Stomach cancer in various sources includes:

• Age - typically over 55
• Diet
• Alcohol
• Alcoholism
• Blood group A
• Helicobacter pylori bacterial infection
• Stomach surgery
• Pernicious anemia
• Achlorhydria
• Gastric atrophy
• Certain dusts
• Certain fumes
• Smoking - however the relationship is not particularly strong.
• Japan - the rate of stomach cancer is more than 80 times higher in Japan than the USA

Non-risk factors:

Certain factors have been mentioned to have no significant effect on the risk of Stomach cancer including:

• Stomach ulcers

Risk factors discussion:

What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI (Excerpt)

Smoking may also increase the likelihood of developing cancers of the stomach, liver, prostate, colon, and rectum. The risk of cancer begins to decrease soon after a smoker quits, and the risk continues to decline gradually each year after quitting. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Cancer -- An Overview: NCI)

What You Need To Know About Stomach Cancer: NCI (Excerpt)

Researchers have learned that some people are more likely than others to develop stomach cancer. The disease is found most often in people over age 55. It affects men twice as often as women, and is more common in black people than in white people. Also, stomach cancer is more common in some parts of the world -- such as Japan, Korea, parts of Eastern Europe, and Latin America -- than in the United States. People in these areas eat many foods that are preserved by drying, smoking, salting, or pickling. Scientists believe that eating foods preserved in these ways may play a role in the development of stomach cancer. On the other hand, fresh foods (especially fresh fruits and vegetables and properly frozen or refrigerated fresh foods) may protect against this disease.

Stomach ulcers do not appear to increase a person's risk (chance) of getting stomach cancer. However, some studies suggest that a type of bacteria, Helicobacter pylori , which may cause stomach inflammation and ulcers, may be an important risk factor for this disease. Also, research shows that people who have had stomach surgery or have pernicious anemia , achlorhydria , or gastric atrophy (which generally result in lower than normal amounts of digestive juices) have an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Exposure to certain dusts and fumes in the workplace has been linked to a higher than average risk of stomach cancer. Also, some scientists believe smoking may increase stomach cancer risk. (Source: excerpt from What You Need To Know About Stomach Cancer: NCI)

Risks factors for Stomach cancer: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Stomach cancer:

• 17 substances added to America's list of carcinogens
• Gastric cancer preventable
• High salt consumption can cause a range of health problems
• Nobel Prize for Medicine to discoverers of bacteria causing ulcers
• Passive smoking during childhood increases risk of adult lung cancer
• Smoking also linked to stomach cancer
• Weighty issue for men
• More news »

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Stomach cancer are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Stomach cancer makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Stomach cancer. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Stomach cancer. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

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