Gastric Cancer

[Guest guest]

Hello,

" Would you address the following article?

http://cancer.med.upenn.edu/cancernet/98/apr/704066.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