Regular examination of familial gastric cancer is the perfect solution

Once it is confirmed that you have a genetic gene for familial gastric cancer, all relevant family members need to be vigilant. This means that the risk of gastric cancer in family members will be higher than the general population, so prevention should be carried out early.

The gene for familial gastric cancer is the CDH1 (epithelial-cadherin) gene. This genetic gene that causes gastric cancer was first discovered in a large family in New Zealand in 1998. People with this gene have a 70% risk of developing gastric cancer in the future. This is a terrifyingly high probability. So how should we deal with it if we carry this mutated gene?

There is currently no early diagnosis method for familial gastric cancer, and gastroscopy and gastric biopsy cannot detect lesions early. For family members with clear mutations, the risk of dying from gastric cancer at a young age is very high, and preventive total gastrectomy is an option.

For members whose mutations are unclear, family investigations and genetic testing can be used to conduct strict clinical examinations on healthy family members with familial gastric cancer to prevent lesions. The specific method is regular gastroscopy. However, since the early lesions of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer are relatively hidden and often develop under the mucosa, regular gastroscopy must be emphasized. If conditions permit, ultrasonic endoscopy or chromoendoscopy can also be performed.