More than 2,000 people die of stomach cancer every year in Taiwan, and as Helicobacter pylori infection is a strong risk factor, people should avoid sharing food and utensils, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said.
Stomach cancer is the eighth-most common and deadliest cancer in Taiwan.
More than 4,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer every year, while more than 2,000 people with it die, data shows.
Photo: CNA
H. pylori is a major risk factor for stomach cancer, as it is linked to 80 to 90 percent of stomach cancer cases, the HPA said in a statement.
Maintaining good lifestyle habits and reducing the risk of H. pylori infection could greatly decrease the risk of developing stomach cancer, it said.
The risk of stomach cancer in people with H. pylori infection is about six to 10 times higher than others, and the WHO in 1994 classified H. pylori as a Group 1 carcinogen, it said.
H. pylori could cause chronic gastritis and ulcers, and long-term inflammation of the stomach lining could lead to the destruction of gastric glands and gastric mucosal atrophy, resulting in the precancerous condition of gastric intestinal metaplasia and eventually stomach cancer, it said.
H. pylori is mainly transmitted from person to person through the fecal-oral route, but it could also be transmitted through saliva, it said, adding that sharing food and utensils, and drinking from the same cup with someone infected could increase infection risk.
People could take a C-13 urea breath test, H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test, or a gastroscopy to check whether they are infected, it said.
The agency in August last year said it launched a trial program in nine administrative regions offering a free HpSA test to people aged 45 to 74.
The program has been expanded to 17 administrative regions this year, so people who would like to get the test can ask a local health facility about its availability, it said.
HPA Director-General Wu Chao-chun (吳昭軍) said people should protect their gut health by eating healthy food, practicing good hygiene, doing exercise regularly, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol, and seeing a doctor if they develop gastrointestinal symptoms.
CHANGING LANDSCAPE: Many of the part-time programs for educators were no longer needed, as many teachers obtain a graduate degree before joining the workforce, experts said Taiwanese universities this year canceled 86 programs, Ministry of Education data showed, with educators attributing the closures to the nation’s low birthrate as well as shifting trends. Fifty-three of the shuttered programs were part-time postgraduate degree programs, about 62 percent of the total, the most in the past five years, the data showed. National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) discontinued the most part-time master’s programs, at 16: chemistry, life science, earth science, physics, fine arts, music, special education, health promotion and health education, educational psychology and counseling, education, design, Chinese as a second language, library and information sciences, mechatronics engineering, history, physical education
The Chinese military has boosted its capability to fight at a high tempo using the element of surprise and new technology, the Ministry of National Defense said in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) published on Monday last week. The ministry highlighted Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) developments showing significant changes in Beijing’s strategy for war on Taiwan. The PLA has made significant headway in building capabilities for all-weather, multi-domain intelligence, surveillance, operational control and a joint air-sea blockade against Taiwan’s lines of communication, it said. The PLA has also improved its capabilities in direct amphibious assault operations aimed at seizing strategically important beaches,
‘MALIGN PURPOSE’: Governments around the world conduct espionage operations, but China’s is different, as its ultimate goal is annexation, a think tank head said Taiwan is facing a growing existential threat from its own people spying for China, experts said, as the government seeks to toughen measures to stop Beijing’s infiltration efforts and deter Taiwanese turncoats. While Beijing and Taipei have been spying on each other for years, experts said that espionage posed a bigger threat to Taiwan due to the risk of a Chinese attack. Taiwan’s intelligence agency said China used “diverse channels and tactics” to infiltrate the nation’s military, government agencies and pro-China organizations. The main targets were retired and active members of the military, persuaded by money, blackmail or pro-China ideology to steal
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
RSS