People with blood type A should be screened for stomach cancer early, correct or not?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Le Thien Quang - Internal Oncologist - Department of Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

According to the publication of the Global Cancer Registry (IARC), every year there are about 870,000 new cases, 650,000 people die from stomach cancer. There are many views that people with blood type A will have a higher risk of stomach cancer, so is this opinion correct?

Stomach cancer is the most common type of cancer of the digestive tract. According to the study, the rate of stomach cancer in Vietnam is 19.3/100,000 people in men and 9.1/100,000 people in women. The disease is common between the ages of 40 and 60. The rate of men infected is 2 times higher than that of women.
Stomach cancer is caused by cells in the stomach that begin to grow out of control. That mass of cells forms tumors, which can spread to other areas of the body (metastasis). Stomach cancer occurs due to pathogenic mechanisms related to H. pylori bacteria, diet and some environmental factors,...

Up to now, there is still no scientific basis to confirm that people with blood type A will definitely have stomach cancer. However, according to Health Sina, blood type characteristics are associated with cancer incidence. Researchers believe that blood type is regulated by the amount of antigens and antibodies, which act as a natural barrier against invasion by foreign substances. Besides, according to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology: People with blood type A have a 15-20% higher risk of stomach cancer than other blood types.
To explain this, the authors have proposed that: The cause is related to H.pylori bacteria, whose full name is Helicobacter pylori. This is a type of bacteria that lives in the human stomach. H.pylori lives and grows in the mucous layer on the surface of the stomach lining. Helicobacter pylori bacteria can cause lesions such as stomach ulcers or stomach cancer.
People with blood type A have a poor immune response to H.pylori bacteria and therefore have an increased risk of stomach cancer. Clinical statistics show that one third of people with cancer are blood group A and stomach cancer accounts for the most.

Need to be screened for stomach cancer as soon as possible when experiencing the following symptoms:
Slight abdominal discomfort such as nausea and loss of appetite. Difficulty swallowing due to a tumor involving the upper part of the stomach, near the esophagus. Feeling of fullness even when taking only a small amount of food. Fatigue and lethargy often. Unusual weight loss. Iron deficiency anemia. Blood loss - Vomiting blood or coffee grounds-like substance or passing black or bloody stools. Nausea and vomiting - Late symptom due to obstruction of gastric circulation due to advanced cancer.

In some developed countries like Japan, where stomach cancer is a common disease, extensive screening can help detect stomach cancer early. The doctor will give you some tests to check, such as: Gastroscopy, biopsy of suspected lesions, tests for tumor markers,...
In the package of screening and early detection of cancer Stomach cancer at Vinmec, gastric cancer screening is done through gastroscopy with NBI (Narrow Banding Imaging - endoscope with narrow light frequency band) for clear mucosal pathological analysis results. sharper than conventional endoscopy.

Besides, with the system of Laboratory Department - Vinmec International General Hospital is a synchronous testing center with a full range of fields: Biochemistry, Hematology - Blood Transfusion, Microbiology - Parasitology and Anatomy Diseases and 3 majors: Biochemistry, Hematology - Blood Transfusion, Microbiology - Parasitology all achieved ISO 15189:2012 certificate. Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cells and Gene Technology also screened 15 common cancers in Men and 17 common cancers in Women with only one gene test.

In April & May 2021, when there is a need for gastric cancer examination and treatment at Vinmec Times City International Hospital, customers will enjoy double incentives:
- Free specialist examination and 50% discount on Esophageal and Stomach Cancer Screening Package
- 50% off cost for customers who have indications for post-examination treatment. The program is limited to the corresponding technique of each hospital and to customers who perform this treatment technique for the first time at Vinmec.