Question:
Does gastric bypass surgery increase suseptibility to cancer?

   — Monica C. (posted on December 28, 2002)

December 27, 2002
Not at all according to my surgeon. You have to realizes some cancers are common in MOs like breast and colon. Colon cancer runs in both sides of my MO family. But the RNY doesnt make it happen and studies are being done to see if it helps.
   — bob-haller

December 27, 2002
Hi there...good question. A dear Aunt of mine died as a result of a rare stomach cancer, so your very question was first on my list for my surgeon as a pre-op. He assured me it did not increase the chances. I didn't get specifics as to why he feels that way (now thinking back I guess I should have insisted on that). But I did do LOTS of research on RNY before my surgery and I did not find anything indicating that could be a potential result of the surgery. However, I did read in one phamplet that if you did develope stomach cancer (not as a result of cancer) that it would be harder to determine, because of the difficulty testing the bypassed stomach. If I'm wrong here folks, set me straight. -Kim open RNY 7/17/01 -145
   — KimBo36

December 27, 2002
If "they" knew what caused cancer for sure there were would be a cure, so its all speculation on the cause. Since WLS has been done for over 30 years there would be a hugh amount of WLS people who had develped cancer by now and we would see a common link and so far there is no such link.
   — ZZ S.

December 28, 2002
I am pre-op. Have read at the Atkins site (atkinscenter.com) that when you lose weight you release free radicals - linked to cancer and heart disease. He recommends antioxidents supplements to bind to these free radicals. Please note that free radicals are also present without weight loss.
   — Meg L.

December 28, 2002
My father died of Esphogeoal Cancer in 1982 - back before all these meds they have for GERD and Hiatal Hernias. I had severe heart burn and was put on meds for it - I've been told that after my surgery I would no longer have GERD so---- I won't have to worry about that kind of CA. No one knows why some Cancers occur - no day they tell you not to eat something and then a year later they say it didn't matter. The only one I'm sure of is Lung Cancer - DON'T SMOKE!!-- GOD BLESS YA- Sally
   — Sally P.