Obesity Surgery Cuts Cancer Risk
I recently came across a study by The McGill University Health Center in Montreal that indicates obesity surgery may reduce an obese persons risk of certain types of cancer by up to 80%. When this story was covered by all the news outlets yesterday, another study which is not online, was included. The actual rate of reduction of certain types of caner was up to 85%. This is a huge number because, unlike an 85% increased of cancer which could be still be a small chance overall, an 85% reduction in anything is a big drop.
Once again, statistics do make me stop and wonder more than they actually enlighten. I am wondering what the actual increased rate of cancer is, when compared to normal weight people, for these patients that are candidates for obesity surgery. That is the number that really interests me. I am a big proponent of us all eating healthy food and doing our best to maintain a healthy weight. I never really thought about exactly what type of increase in cancer rates having an extra 20, 30 or 50 pounds can have. If it is significant, this is even more reason to eat well and exercise!
I believe I have seen that the candidates for obesity surgery have to be at least 100 pounds overweight and have been unsuccessful with traditional weight loss techniques. It may be only people 100 pounds or more overweight achieve the cancer rate reduction since people that are not that overweight do not have increased rates of cancer.
Anyway, you may have already heard about this on the news or in your local paper, but the links above should bring you to some of the original material if you are interested in the main sources.
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Very interesting article link and post Will. A friend of mine had this surgery done many years ago, back then it was highly frowned upon and only to be done as a last resort. He did loose lots of weight and has chosen a healthier lifestyle and is doing well.
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Comment by Bob (114 comments.) — June 20, 2008 @ 5:40 pm
Will:
I don’t have any statistics related to cancer and this type of surgical intervention. I do, however, know someone who had this surgery quite some time ago. He seems to be doing well without any problems - cancer or otherwise.
On another topic, but one related to the stomach: I know a guy who had the large nerve to his stomach severed in order to prevent excessive acid secretion. The operation took place over forty-five years ago. It was an extreme procedure at the time implemented to treat his ulcerated stomach. I recently heard that he is still doing quite well.
Evidently, the stomach is a hardy organ.
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Comment by Swubird (27 comments.) — June 21, 2008 @ 9:14 am
I was recently told that the same surgery also cures diabetes, and web research seem to support the theory.
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Comment by Jennifer Robin (39 comments.) — June 21, 2008 @ 5:55 pm
Hi Will, glad to be back. As always interesting post, and I am the same if comes to statistics. I like the number too, but you know I always wondered about the size of the population. You know they could have easily done on the 10 or 20 people, and I really think small population samples do not mean much. BTW I am still leading with my posts, lol, was afraid that with my absence I will loose the lead, lol. Hope all is well, Anna
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Comment by Anna (145 comments.) — June 21, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
btw, I like that feature that ads my last blog posts [comment luv], I was going to keep it surprise for you, and there you go all is out, lol, the title says it all, Anna
Annas last blog post..Miracle of Life - My Baby Matthew
Comment by Anna (145 comments.) — June 21, 2008 @ 7:35 pm
I really like how you redesigned your blog. And it’s full of great info!! Keep up the good work!
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Comment by kml (2 comments.) — June 22, 2008 @ 6:37 am
I suspect this study on obesity surgery might manipulate the statistics as do many studies on “successful” drugs do. This study does not report on longevity: do the people having the surgery live any longer? Are they dying of anything else so quickly they don’t have time to get cancer? Are they dying of something else? I have clients who’ve had this surgery and they end up with nutrient deficiencies and then become ill. This can lead to a heart attack or other life-threatening disease.
Comment by Linda Prout (15 comments.) — June 22, 2008 @ 6:57 am
Welcome back Anna! Now everyone knows what you have been up to. Congratulations!
Jennifer Robin - I guess it would do that as the diet related diabetes is really an obesity issue.
Swubird - How long ago was his surgery?
That is a great point, Linda. It makes perfect sense that as these people eat so much less, they need to be extremely aware of getting the proper nutrition. I wonder if they do live normal life spans after the surgery.
Comment by Will — June 22, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
Sometimes when you get too far overweight surgery is the only answer, but even after a successful surgery you still have to be conscious of how to maintain your weight.
It is always a struggle to get the weight off and then it takes a conscious effort to keep it off.
Being over weight is an emotionally draining and physically draining situation to be in and many times your struggle is reduced to ridicule and insensitivity.
The exhilaration you feel when you look back 5 months before you made a conscious effort and see positive results is truly gratifying and often creates wide smiles and happy tears.
Losing weight can be accomplish but motivation must come from the inside to change the outside.
You can and will do it, just never give up hope.
Only give up the pounds and the inches.
Fat Butt No More
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Comment by Fat Butt No More (1 comments.) — August 20, 2008 @ 2:04 am