People with early-stage stomach cancer usually experience no symptoms, the Gastroenterological Society of Taiwan said on Sunday, adding that avoiding bacterial infections and undergoing regular checkups are important tools for cancer prevention.
National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH) physician Wu Ming-shiang (吳明賢), who is also society chairman, said that tomorrow marks the first World Stomach Day, an international initiative aimed at raising awareness and support for stomach health.
The stomach is prone to a range of illnesses, including peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) bacteria infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease, which are all commonly diagnosed in Taiwan, he said.
The hospital’s health checkups have found that about 20 to 30 percent of the patients had gastroesophageal reflux disease and about 10 to 15 percent had peptic ulcer disease, Wu said.
About 4,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year in Taiwan, but about 80 percent of them do not experience symptoms in the early stages, he said.
Poor digestive health can affect the metabolism as well as the immune and nervous systems, but many Taiwanese have the bad habit of eating too fast or having meetings while eating, Wu said.
Taiwan Microbiota Consortium president and Taipei Veterans General Hospital physician Wu Chun-ying (吳俊穎) said that H pylori infection disrupts the stomach’s physiology and that studies have suggested it as one of the most significant factors leading to the development of stomach cancer.
NTUH physician Lee Yi-chia (李宜家) said studies have found that H pylori infection rates in the nation’s remote areas and outlying islands are about 60 to 70 percent, while the rate is only about 20 percent in Taipei.
H pylori is transmitted from person to person through saliva or fecal contamination of food or water, Lee said, adding that it is often transmitted between family members through sharing food or utensils.
Studies have shown that H pylori eradication therapy can reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer, he said.
Lee urged people to avoid eating cured food or food high in sodium, as well as smoking and drinking alcohol, and advised them to undergo regular checkups to prevent stomach diseases.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) on Friday laid out the Cabinet’s updated policy agenda and recapped the government’s achievements ahead of the one-year anniversary of President William Lai’s (賴清德) inauguration. Cho said the government had made progress across a range of areas, including rebuilding Hualien, cracking down on fraud, improving pedestrian safety and promoting economic growth. “I hope the public will not have the impression that the Cabinet only asked the legislature to reconsider a bunch of legal amendments,” Cho said, calling the moves “necessary” to protect constitutional governance and the public’s interest. The Cabinet would work toward achieving its “1+7” plan, he said. The
RSS