In today’s age, if someone is unaware that smoking causes lung cancer, they are probably living under a rock. For the rest of us, it is a known fact. However, do you know that smoking is a high-risk factor for stomach cancer as well?
Speaking to the team of OnlyMyHealth, Dr Lakhan Kashyap, Consultultanht, Medical Oncology, Manipal Hospitals, Baner, Pune, said, “If you see the statistics, people who smoke are almost one and a half times at higher risk of getting stomach cancer than those who do not smoke.”
A study published in the American Association for Cancer Research found that smoking increases the risk of stomach cancer by a whopping 80%. Dr Khashyap explained more about this phenomenon and listed preventive measures.
Smoking Causes Stomach Cancer
Dr Kashyap shared that tobacco contains nitrosamines, which are strong carcinogens that have the potential to cause cancer in diverse organs and tissues including the lung, brain, liver, kidney, bladder, stomach, oesophagus, and nasal sinus, according to an overview published in ScienceDirect.
“These nitrosamines damage the DNA of the stomach lining, transforming those cells into neoplastic cells. It also damages tumour suppressor genes, which inhibits their function to suppress the formation of tumours,” shared Dr Kashyap.
He added, “Smoking also converts proto-oncogenes into oncogenes, leading to an unregulated division of the cells in the stomach linings causing stomach cancer.”
Also Read: Stomach Cancer And Diet: Expert Explains Food Habits That Can Increase Its Risk
Preventing Stomach Cancer
The best way to treat a chaotic and ruthless disease like cancer, which does not have a cure yet, is to seek early intervention, which can be aided by recognising the initial symptoms of stomach cancer before it rears its ugly head.”
Listing a few early signs of stomach cancer, Dr Kashyap shared:
- Stomach cancer may cause some bleeding which may manifest as blood in the vomit.
- Extremely black stool.
- An inexplicable feeling of fullness without eating much food.
- Abdominal discomfort.
- Weight loss.
- Loss of appetite.
Beyond recognising the early signs, Dr Kashyap listed a few preventive measures that can at least prolong your risk of stomach cancer:
- Avoid air pollution and second-hand smoke, especially when air quality is inferior.
- Obesity is another risk factor, so keep your weight in check.
- Consume a healthy diet that includes fruit, vegetables, and fibre.
- Avoid preserved food, particularly food which has a high salt content.
- Indulge in physical exercise on a regular.
If you are a chronic smoker, this is your sign to stop. There is no other way around quitting cigarettes, and only luck can save you. Even if you don’t get cancer, there is a huge chance that other chronic illnesses like heart attack or emphysema will get you if you keep up your habit of smoking.