Re: Gastric Cancer

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr. R,

Thanks for addressning this again. I am also

wondering whether the risk of cancer, which seems

to be the result of the bile and digestive juices

coming into the stomach, are now being reduced by

the second generation acid reducers and acid

inhibitors that are now available. My husband is

a pharmacist and indicated these fairly new drugs

are much more effective than the antacids we had

available when many of these surgeries in these

studies were done.

- waiting in Chicago

Gastric Cancer

> Hello,

>

> " Would you address the following article?

>

>

http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/cancernet/98/apr/70406

6.html#5 "

>

> Yes. Stomach cancer can happen after stomach

surgery. It can also

> happen without stomach surgery.

>

> What you really want to know is: Is cancer more

often after stomach

> surgery especially after a Billroth II.

>

> ** Answer most studies say no, stomach cancer is

not more common

> after Billroth II. A few say yes, it (stomach

cancer) is more

> common. In the ones that say it is more common

the increased rate is

> about the rate seen in people with ulcers. What

I mean is ulcers lead to

> increased rates of stomach cancer. People that

have stomach surgery for ulcers have an increased

risk of cancer equal to people that have ulcers.

In the studies that do show an increased rate in

Billroth II patients it is in patients with

ulcers.

>

> But, in the studies that do show an increased

risk in stomach surgery patients (most do not show

an increased risk)...

>

> How much is the increase in the studies that do

show an increase?

>

> The increased rates seen in some studies after

Billroth II are less

> than that seen for eating processed meats (i.e.

Beef Jerky or Baloney).

>

> What I mean all studies show the strongest

predictors of gastric cancer

> are what you eat!

>

> Fresh fruits and veggies are good, that is they

lower the risk of stomach cancer by much more than

a Billroth II might possibly change the risk of

cancer.

>

>

> Baloney and beef jerky (processed meats) are

bad, that is they increase the risk much more than

the studies that suggest an increase risk of

cancer from a Billroth II.

>

> These factors (what you eat) have much more of

an impact on the risk

> of getting stomach cancer than the small

increased risk of Billroth II stomach surgery that

is show in some studies.

>

> See

>

> http://www.clos.net/billroth2/billroth_ii_ca.htm

>

> for more detailed information.

>

> Even more important to me is that all types of

weight loss surgery can fail and the Mini-Gastric

Bypass that uses the loop Billroth II is easily

modified. If you fail after a RNY you are in for

a very serious operation with marked increase in

risk of complications.

>

> My bias: have Billroth II type connection, don't

eat baloney or other processed meats, do eat fresh

fruits and vegetables.

>

> I don't mind of others choose a different course

but over the long term all of you have read about

RNY patients that regain their weight or lose to

much. If that happens 15 years from now what will

you do?

>

> The Billroth II is done all the time by surgeons

around the world.

>

> The few that I do are a paltry number compared

to the thousands of Billroth II type surgeries

that are done every year

>

> http://www.clos.net/billroth_ii_today.htm

>

> Ask yourself why is everyone so concerned about

my few patients with a Billroth II?

>

> The Billroth II is being done today for ulcers

for trauma and as a treatment for cancer of the

stomach and pancreas.

>

> If someone really wanted to protect the world

from the Billroth II I think they could find

thousands of other general surgeons to pick on.

>

> Why not have a web site Billroth II truth?

>

> Are the general surgeons doing Billroth II

surgery for ulcer disease bad?

>

> http://www.clos.net/billroth_ii_today.htm

>

> I don't think so.

>

> :-)

>

> RR

>

>

>

>

>