Our readers may have read or heard about the topics of gastric bypass and colon cancer. More specifically, they may have learned about how weight-loss surgery may reduce the risk for colon cancer. Continue reading for some info on the connection between patients who undergo bariatric surgery and studies possibly showing that the procedure helps reduce the risks of cancer development.
If you have lived with extra weight on your body, you probably know what it is like to experience side effects from excess pounds. It is well known that morbid obesity increases the risk of several types of cancer. However, recent studies have shown that having bariatric surgery could help reduce the risk of cancer development.
A 2018 study published in the British Journal of Surgery reported that patients that had weight loss surgery had a 77% decreased risk of developing hormone-related cancer. This includes obesity-related cancers such as prostate, breast, or endometrial cancer when compared to patients that did not have the surgery. Gastric bypass was indicated as the largest risk reduction.
Cancer risk reduction with weight loss/bariatric surgery
While there is more research required to fully understand the biological components behind these findings, these numbers are very positive. Additional research may reveal even more statistically significant connections between reduced risk of cancer in patients who had undergone gastric bypass.
However, the research seems to indicate that obesity surgery reduces cancer and helps bolster the health and wellbeing of each patient that undergoes this life-changing surgery.
The risk of cancer increases with obesity. In fact, research indicates that while tobacco is the leading cause of preventable cancer in the United States, obesity is right behind it as the second-leading cause.
Researchers will do more work to truly suss out the details. This will likely include learning how obesity affects the risk for rectal cancer and other types of cancers. In many cases, results are close. More info about bariatric surgery as it relates to cancer diagnoses will also help paint a fuller picture.
Health Benefits of Weight Loss
In addition to a decreased risk of cancer development, there are a variety of other significant health benefits that come with sustained weight loss by undergoing bariatric surgery. This is true regardless of the type of surgery (gastric bypass, gastric banding, etc.). Benefits include improved cardiovascular health, decreased joint pain, improved fertility, remission of type two diabetes, reduction in sleep apnea, and much more.
Cancer is prevalent today, and it can be easy to worry about your risk of developing it. Have excess weight? Have traditional methods of weight loss been unsuccessful? You may feel frustrated and nervous about your increased cancer risk.
Weight loss surgery could be an option for you. Ready to talk to one of our doctors to see if you are a candidate for this surgery? We provide plenty of resources for our patients at WeightWise. These include a variety of available weight-loss surgeries, recipes, a video archive, a frequently updated blog, information on the benefits and risks of bariatric surgery, guides for pain management, and so much more.
Of course, we also have many inspiring weight-loss-surgery success stories that we encourage you to read. We work with people from all walks of life. We are excited to share these stories with you as you begin your own weight-loss journey.
How can we help you? Our experienced team at WeightWise can answer your questions and determine if you are eligible. Your health is our priority. We remain committed to working with you on your journey to a healthier, active life! We look forward to talking to you about how we can help.
Note: We updated this post on Jan. 17, 2022.