​Why are men at double risk of stomach cancer?

Stomach cancer has become one of the most prevalent types of cancers in the recent past with now even the younger generation getting diagnosed with it. This type of cancer is still widely underrated, but it is a major cause of concern as stomach cancers usually showcase an aggressive tumor biology which is inherently fast growing and highly malignant. ​

According to studies, these types of cancers are much more prevalent in men due to the difference in hormones. Females have estrogen which helps them protect against inflammation and lowers their chances of getting diagnosed with stomach cancer. ​

Dr. Vinay Gaikwad, Director, The Oncology Centre, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram says, “The symptoms of stomach cancer can be very vague and misleading sometimes. The feeling of acidity and abdominal pain is very common and is taken lightly until the disease has progressed substantially. Sometimes these symptoms may indicate low haemoglobin levels, sudden weight loss, or decreased appetite which is usually ignored by the patients.”​

The stomach stores the food we eat and helps in its further digestion in the intestine. Since it is a highly expandable structure to accommodate food, even if the cancer is very large, symptoms are usually experienced by the patient at a later and more advanced stage. ​

Dr. Gaikwad says, “The majority of such cases are interlinked with poor lifestyle choices like unhealthy diet, excessive salt consumption, and alcohol consumption, along with smoking. Age and hereditary reasons also play a major role, but these are non-modifiable risk factors.”​

Treatment options consist of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and sometimes targeted therapy. But the important thing is to be aware of the symptoms for early detection and to get appropriate tests done to rule out or confirm the disease​