Figures show that more than 400,000 new stomach cancer patients and more than 300,000 deaths from stomach cancer occur in China each year. In contrast, more than 150,000 people die from esophageal cancer in China each year. Due to the differences in geographic environment and living habits, the incidence of digestive tract cancer has significant geographical characteristics. The survey shows that stomach and esophageal cancers are the most prevalent tumors in the eastern part of Guangdong, especially in Chaoshan. Many people in Chaoshan suffer from different degrees of gastrointestinal diseases, and the incidence of gastric cancer remains high; the incidence of esophageal cancer is as high as 4 people per 10,000 people in the eastern part of Guangdong, and because of the lack of specificity of esophageal cancer, 90% of them are already at a locally advanced stage when detected. In the “2008 National Cancer Summit Forum”, pickled foods and Chaoshan Kungfu tea were even included in the ranks of gastrointestinal killers by the medical profession in Guangdong.
Li Chujun, associate professor of gastroenterology at the Sixth Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, said in an interview with this newspaper that the Chaoshan region is indeed a high incidence area for stomach and esophageal cancers. Studies have found that digestive tract tumors are related to genetic changes, and 3% of the population has a family history of cancer, but among the multiple factors that cause cancer, changes in eating habits and ways occupy a very important seat. It can be said that a considerable part of Chaoshan people’s gastroesophageal tumors are eaten out, and in recent years, medical experts in the province have constantly raised objections to the traditional eating habits.
”Chaoshan people are keen to drink boiling hot kung fu tea, pickled food and enjoy late night snacking, which are all prone to induce digestive tract pathologies in the long run.” Chen Junrong, a clinician in the department, said. The two gastroenterologists are both native Chaoshanese, and even though they are in other countries, they still have a strong affection for Chaoshan food. However, as gastroenterologists, they are worried about some unhealthy factors in the Chaoshan diet. They call on the public to listen to the voice of the gut and treat the traditional food culture and unhealthy factors in eating habits correctly.
Quickly eat boiling hot white porridge
White porridge and rice are the staple food of Chaoshan people, and white porridge is served every day for breakfast. Many Chaoshan people drink white porridge like to drink “boiling hot”, and drink quickly, three or two times to “pour” in. Which does not care whether the delicate mucosa of the esophagus can withstand such a “hot” test.
Li Chujun pointed out that an overheated diet can lead to serious physical damage to the esophageal mucosa, and eating too fast can cause coordination disorders in esophageal movement, which can easily cause esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, and in the long run, esophageal cancer may occur. The hot porridge soon enters the stomach cavity, which also “burns” the gastric mucosa, causing gastritis and gastric ulcers, which may turn into gastric cancer in the long run. According to the data, the incidence of stomach cancer among people who often eat too hot food is 4.22 times higher than normal people.
Long-term consumption of salted vegetables
Chaoshan has three treasures: fish sauce, dried vegetables and pickled vegetables. Pickled vegetables are the most common dish in the home life of the Chaoshan people, and many families pickle their own food. 100 kilograms of mustard with 8 kilograms of coarse salt, pickled in a large clay pot for a month, become golden in color, taste salty and crisp, drink white porridge with a small plate, even in Guangzhou’s senior Chaoshan restaurants at the end of the finale with this one to the finale.
”Savory dishes are part of a high-salt diet, and long-term consumption in large quantities can increase the risk of stomach cancer.” Chen Jun Rong said that the intake of high concentrations of salt can damage the gastric mucosal barrier, increasing susceptibility to carcinogenic substances; pickled vegetables produce a large amount of nitrite in the process of pickling, nitrite is consumed, under the action of gastric acid and protein decomposition products secondary amine reaction, generating nitrosamines, the latter has a strong carcinogenic effect.
Prefer to drink strong hot kung fu tea
Chaoshan people like to drink tea, regardless of the season, regardless of daytime. Kung Fu tea emphasizes the word “hot”, the water into the tea must be boiling water. Drinking tea to ensure a certain temperature, in order to ensure the fragrance of tea.
”Tea itself is a healthy drink, the key is how to drink.” Talking about kung fu tea Li Chujun stressed that kung fu tea hurts gastrointestinal health is mainly caused by the temperature and concentration of the tea. Too hot tea, easy to scald the esophageal mucosa, long-term drinking, damage to the mucosa has not been fully repaired and scalded, it is easy to cause ulcers; and repeated ulcers that do not heal, may lead to cancer. Too strong tea, theophylline repeatedly stimulate the gastric mucosa, also easy to cause gastritis and ulcers, etc., the same may cause tumors.
Love late night
The late night snack culture in the Chaoshan region is very rich, and snack stalls are blooming everywhere. In fact, frequent snacking can also lead to an increased risk of stomach cancer.
”The epithelial cells of gastric mucosa need to be renewed and regenerated once in 2-3 days, and this regeneration and repair process usually takes place at night when the gastrointestinal tract is resting. If you often eat at night, the gastrointestinal tract cannot rest and adjust well during this time, and the regeneration and repair of gastric mucosa cannot be carried out satisfactorily.” Li Chujun, when eating late night snacks and then sleep, food stays in the stomach for a longer period of time, which can promote the secretion of large amounts of gastric juice, causing prolonged stimulation of the gastric mucosa, which, over time, leads to mucosal erosion, ulcers and weakened resistance. Most of the fried, barbecued and fried foods commonly found in late night snacks contain carcinogenic substances, which are more likely to lead to gastric cancer when left in the stomach for a long time. Medical research has found that in Japan, a country with a high incidence of stomach cancer, 38.4% of its stomach cancer patients have irregular dinner time.
Experts remind
Be alert to the early manifestations of gastroesophageal cancer
According to many gastroenterologists including Prof. Li Chujun, among the patients admitted with gastroesophageal cancer, a considerable part of them are already in advanced stage of the tumor and the treatment effect is very poor. Therefore, it is very important to be alert to the early manifestation of tumor.
Early stage of esophageal cancer can be manifested as discomfort behind the sternum, burning sensation, stabbing or pulling pain, slow passage of food and feeling of stagnation or mild choking sensation, symptoms can be light and heavy at times, and the duration varies, which can be easily ignored. The symptoms of gastric cancer are more atypical.
Early symptoms of gastric cancer are even more atypical. In the advanced stage, epigastric pain, poor appetite, severe malnutrition, vomiting blood or black color of stool, and lumps and pressure pain may be felt in the upper abdomen; when the tumor metastasizes to other organs such as lung and liver, corresponding manifestations will also appear, such as cough, hemoptysis, dyspnea, right upper abdominal pain, yellow color of skin and eyes, abdominal distension, etc. If similar symptoms are found, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible, and the diagnosis can be confirmed by performing gastroscopy and clamping the lesion for pathological tests. The earlier it is detected, the earlier it is treated, the better the effect.
◆Expert opinion
Improve some traditional “junk eating” methods
”There is no absolute junk food in the world, only junk eating methods.” Traditional food culture is still worth preserving. Li Chujun said that to prevent the occurrence of stomach and esophageal cancer, we should correct the unhealthy way of eating and reduce the unhealthy factors. For example, wait for the porridge to cool down before drinking, reduce the amount of salty dishes appropriately, don’t drink too hot and too strong kung fu tea and drink the right amount every day, and eat as little as possible late at night.
◆Talk to experts
Whether to eat spicy or not depends on the stomach reserve first
Health and Wellness Weekly: There are many people who think that eating spicy food is unhealthy in Guangdong, and that eating spicy food often makes you prone to digestive tumors. But in fact, Hunan and Sichuan people who like spicy food do not have more digestive tumors than Guangdong people. How can this phenomenon be explained medically?
Li Chujun: A person’s ability to tolerate spicy taste is related to the reserve of the stomach on the one hand. If the gastrointestinal function is good, even eating spicy food can be tolerated. If you have gastritis, gastric ulcer, and eat spicy and sour, it will definitely stimulate the condition. On the other hand, it is also related to the local water and soil factors. For example, Chongqing is located in a mountainous city, and the locals eat spicy hotpot to combat the wet and cold climate and reduce the occurrence of the disease.
Empirical treatment is not reliable, and it is important to maintain treatment
Health and Wellness Weekly: Many people experience stomach pain to varying degrees, but at the same time many people don’t bother with it and go to the pharmacy to buy some medicine on their own, eat it and get relief, and then forget about it. It seems that stomach medicine has become a painkiller?
Li Chujun: long illness into a good doctor is a half-understanding, the severity of gastric disease varies, the medication is also different. One of the difficulties in treating stomach disease is that it has a high recurrence rate, and “maintenance therapy” is the main measure to prevent recurrence. Stomach medicine is not a painkiller. Painkillers hurt the stomach, while stomach medicine is a gastric mucous membrane protector and can inhibit the secretion of stomach acid. Although there is a wide variety of stomach medicine on the market, and a considerable number of drugs are over-the-counter, patients can buy their own pharmacy, but the irregular treatment is likely to cause recurrence or persistent attacks, or even aggravation. The correct approach is that patients should visit a regular hospital, undergo a gastroscopic examination and receive standardized treatment under the guidance of a physician. In addition, patients on long-term maintenance medication should also pay attention to the occurrence of side effects and regularly recheck blood and liver functions, and any abnormalities should be dealt with promptly.
Older patients should pay attention to keeping warm and preventing fatigue during the cooling season
Health and Wellness Weekly: Recently, the temperature has cooled down again, so what should be done to prepare the old patients with gastrointestinal diseases for the spring?
Li Chujun: the onset of gastric disease is related to fatigue, weather, mental tension and other triggers, usually stomach should try to avoid these factors, eat less spicy and acidic food, pay attention to keep warm, do not fatigue. Stomach pain, stomach area discomfort or digestive discomfort, you should promptly go to the hospital for gastroscopy, barium penetration, CT, color ultrasound and laboratory tests such as exfoliated cells, fecal occult blood, etc. to figure out what the cause is.
Gastroenterologist’s diet reminder of Chaoshan area to prevent esophageal cancer and stomach cancer