November is National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month. Stomach cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. More than 21,000 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year and nearly half of those diagnosed will lose their battle with the disease.
Research has found that 6 out of 10 individuals who are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year are 65 years of age or above and the most common age is around 69. Doctors say that approximately 1 out of every 111 individuals is likely to develop stomach cancer at one point within his/her lifetime, with men being more likely than women to fall victim to this form of cancer.
The American Cancer Society estimates that this year:
- There will be 22,220 cases of stomach cancer diagnosed just within the United States
- 13,730 of these cases will be men, while 8,490 will be women
- 10,990 cases of stomach cancer will result in death
- 6,720 men will die, while 4,270 of terminal cases will be women
It’s not clear what causes stomach cancer, so there’s no way to prevent it; however, you can take steps to reduce your risk by making small changes in your everyday life like exercising more, eating more fruits and vegetables, quitting smoking, and reducing the amount of salty foods you eat.