MONDAY, March, 16, 2009 (Health.com) — Pancreatic cancer patients who are obese may be 12 times more likely to have cancer that’s already spread to their lymph nodes at the time of surgery than similar cancer patients who weigh less, according to a study released Monday in the Archives of Surgery.
“What we are seeing suggests there is a difference in the way the cancer grows in obese patients versus those who are not,” says study author Jason B. Fleming, MD, of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “That is an area, from a biology standpoint, that has not really been explored.”
Overall, pancreatic cancer patients with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 35 (223 pounds or more for someone who’s 5’6”) were nearly twice as likely to have cancer recur or to die after surgery, as those who weighed less.
Obese patients tended to have larger tumors and were less likely to get chemotherapy or radiation prior to surgery than other patients. However, the survival rate did not seem to be due to the delivery of cancer care or surgical complications related to excess weight, says Dr. Fleming. “People often wonder if obese patients have a worse outcome because they are more inherently at risk for complications, and we did not find that,” he says.
Comments (2)
I lost over 130 lbs using the new gastric balloon non-invasive surgery. It’s widely used in Europe but unknown in the States. I had it done here in Colombia and I could not be happier!
Looks like people should do more research into PGX.. Its a new thing out. Also seems to be able to help people with type 2 diabetes come off there meds!