A Japanese study by Shoichirio Tsugane and Shizuka Sasazuki examined the role of diet in the development of gastric, or stomach, cancer.

Helicobacter pylori infection is a strong and established risk factor for stomach cancer. After reviewing the evidence from many studies, the researchers found that the risk may also be increased with a high intake of various traditional Japanese salt-preserved foods. Processed meat and N-nitroso compounds may be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer risk is decreased with a high intake of fruit and vegetables, particularly fruit. The researchers note that it remains unknown what constituents in fruit and vegetables play a role in gastric cancer prevention. Consumption of green tea is also possibly associated with a decreased risk of gastric cancer, although the researchers note that the protective effect is limited to Japanese women, most of whom are nonsmokers.

In late May, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) announced updates to two NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM) -- Esophageal Cancer and Gastric Cancer.

The panel added oral fluoropyrimidine, Capecitabine (Xeloda(R), Roche) as an option for treatment of esophageal and gastric cancer due to favorable Phase III trials. The panel also states that capecitabine may replace 5-FU and oxaliplatin may replace cisplatin in triplet regimens for advanced esophageal and gastric cancer.

Additional updates and the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology(TM) are available at www.nccn.org free of charge.

Researchers have spent the last six years conducting an observational survey involving 500,000 adults in 10 European countries, to study the possible link of red and processed meat consumption to stomach cancer. Now, researchers are able to conclude while the majority of people do not develop stomach cancer as a result of including red meat in their diet, people suffering from an infection of the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori, H. pylori, who ate red meat and processed meats, were more susceptible to developing stomach cancer. H. pylori is a bacterium that infects the mucus lining of the stomach. Many peptic ulcers and some types of gastritis, which is the inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the stomach's lining, are caused by H. pylori infection. Most people who are infected with this bacterium never develop significant symptoms. Without treatment, chronic gastritis can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer.

The researchers of this study noted that people who ate the most red meat were also more likely to be smokers, and smoking is a known stomach cancer risk. In addition, people who eat the most processed meat appear to eat the least amount of fruits and vegetables. The findings of this study are published in the current issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Dr. Anita Roberts blogs My Journey, about gastric cancer survivorship to let others know how she is doing and to share her thoughts and feeling about the difficulties and surrealism of being diagnosed with cancer, going through cancer treatments and being a cancer survivor. Dr. Roberts, a world-renowned scientist who was chief of NCI's Laboratory of Cell Regulation and Carcinogenesis, has found blogging a therapeutic tool for introspection and in communicating and connecting with others online.

Dr. Roberts has a special page in her blog for devotions, mantras, words of faith, guidance or wisdom tradition, that she collects and shares with others. She invites blog readers to submit any they would like to share, and she will post them in her blog. Her adult children wrote The Song of BellaDonna: a true story of hope when they learned of her cancer diagnosis.

Suzanne and Greg wrote The Song of BellaDonna: A true story of hope and perseverance for their mother Anita Roberts, when they learned of her cancer diagnosis. It is a richly-illustrated fairy tale about the beloved Queen Christine, a giving and gracious queen. One day the evil crablords attack the peaceful land of BellaDonna. Before the battle begins, engineers are called in and the advice of the Council of Elders is sought. The adults of her family found this fairytale helpful when explaining cancer to the younger children of the family. They have published it online, as a wonderful resource for all adults who are faced with the difficult task of helping children understand what happens when a family member is diagnosed with cancer.