Source: © Kauvery Hospitals
Medical experts have urged Nigerians to adopt healthier lifestyles and seek timely medical evaluation to reduce the growing risk of stomach (gastric) cancer — a disease often detected late due to its vague symptoms.
Dr. Vincent Osoka, a General Surgery Resident at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, stressed that cutting down on smoked and salted meats, as well as avoiding tobacco smoke, can significantly lower the risk of developing the disease.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan, Dr. Osoka explained that “stomach cancer occurs when normal cells in the stomach lining begin to grow and divide uncontrollably, leading to tumour formation.” These tumours, he added, may eventually spread to other parts of the body.
> “Gastric cancer is biologically aggressive, with high rates of recurrence and mortality. It is the fourth most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths,” Osoka said.
He identified several major risk factors, including Helicobacter pylori infection, genetic predisposition, and unhealthy diets rich in salt and processed meats. The doctor also noted that many Nigerians often misdiagnose persistent upper abdominal pain as a simple ulcer and self-medicate with antacids — a habit he strongly discouraged.
> “Not all upper abdominal pain is due to gastric ulcers. It’s crucial to investigate such symptoms further to rule out the possibility of gastric cancer,” he warned.
Osoka highlighted that the widespread use of refrigerators in recent decades has helped reduce stomach cancer rates globally, as it lessens dependence on salt-preserved foods. He further advised that tobacco smoke and exposure to other carcinogens increase cancer risk, while certain inherited disorders — such as Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, and Lynch Syndrome — also predispose individuals to the disease.
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Recognising the Warning Signs
Because stomach cancer symptoms are often vague, many patients are diagnosed late.
Common signs include:
Persistent upper abdominal pain (epigastric pain)
Feeling full after eating small amounts of food (early satiety)
Unexplained weight loss
> “Anyone with Helicobacter pylori infection should receive treatment, and those with recurrent stomach pain or early satiety must undergo proper medical evaluation,” Osoka advised.
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Treatment and Early Detection
Dr. Osoka described stomach cancer as “biologically aggressive”, noting that the best chance for a cure is complete surgical removal of the tumour along with surrounding healthy tissue.
> “In early-stage disease, surgery can be curative. For advanced cases where surgery isn’t possible, chemotherapy can improve survival,” he explained.
He also encouraged the establishment of national cancer screening programmes, referencing Japan’s success in reducing gastric cancer deaths by nearly 50% since introducing mass screening in the 1970s.
> “If Nigeria adopts similar screening initiatives, it could significantly reduce cancer-related deaths,” he added.
The doctor called on government authorities to make chemotherapy more accessible, ensure radiotherapy machines are available across states, and provide affordable treatment options. Reliable electricity supply, he said, is also vital so Nigerians can store food properly and avoid harmful preservation methods.
*Lifestyle and prevention tips*
Dr. Ugochi Ikeme, a Senior Resident in General Surgery at UCH, added that stomach cancer is more common in men and occurs twice as often in Black populations compared to whites.
She noted that “ingested nitrites from preserved foods are converted to nitrosamines, which increase cancer risk.” Diets low in vegetables and vitamins A and C, as well as habits like smoking and alcohol consumption, further raise the likelihood of developing the disease.
> “Every patient should be thoroughly evaluated to confirm diagnosis, determine the cancer stage, and assess fitness for treatment,” Ikeme said.
She explained that surgical resection remains the only potentially curative treatment, but most patients present at advanced stages when the disease has already spread.
Dr. Ikeme called for better hospital equipment, improved training for primary healthcare workers, and more public education to help people understand that not all stomach pain is due to ulcers.
> “Healthy living is key. Exercise regularly, eat balanced meals, avoid alcohol and smoking. Workers in high-risk environments, such as rubber and coal industries, should wear protective gear,” she advised.
She further encouraged research into genetic mutations that may predispose Nigerians to gastric cancer, noting that awareness and early detection could save countless lives.
In summary, both experts emphasised that stomach cancer is largely preventable through healthier dietary habits, prompt medical evaluation of persistent abdominal symptoms, and government-supported screening initiatives.
> “Most cancers can be cured if treatment begins before metastasis,” Dr. Osoka concluded.
NAN
