Is Gastric Cancer Decreasing? Tetsuro KUBOTA

Abstract: The incidence of gastric cancer is declining in Japan and all over the world. In a study conducted in Osaka prefecture, the age-adjusted mortality rate for gastric cancer decreased from 84 (1963-65) to 41 (1987-89) for males and from 41 to 18 for females during the same period, and the age-adjusted incidence rate also decreased from 108 (1963-65) to 68 (1987-89) for males and from 52 to 30 for females in the same period. Since a decline in gastric cancer mortality has been observed in countries where secondary prevention (screening) is not available, primary prevention is considered important in preventing gastric cancer. Several reports indicate that food type intake as a primary prevention method is important in preventing gastric cancer. Favorable food, said to prevent gastric cancer, includes green, yellow and other fresh vegetables, and milk, while salty food, stock fish, fish in salt, and too much rice are considered candidates to avoid in preventing gastric cancer. Although the decline in mortality is higher than that of incidence, almost half of the number of patients with gastric cancer in Japan are expected to die. Primary and secondary prevention, as well as advances in treatment, will be important to reduce gastric cancer mortality