According to a study published in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery body mass index (BMI) is not associated with surgical complications or survival in esophageal cancer.
These findings, by researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, are contrary to previous studies that have made associations between higher BMI and worse outcomes
in patients suffering from gastrointestinal malignancies.
While researchers do not discount the link between obesity (a BMI over 30) and the increase in not only esophageal cancer but in several other types of cancers, what they sought to determine was whether patients with high BMI do better or worse than people with lower BMI who are treated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy for esophageal cancer/.
The study involved over 300 patients with esophageal cancer treated with all three listed treatment modalities and compared their outcomes with their BMI. According to study co-author Kenneth L. Meredith, M.D.:
"Our study demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival in relation to BMI for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after prior treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Additionally, there were no differences in perioperative complications or mortality associated with BMI. In short, our data failed to demonstrate a link between BMI and surgical outcome."
Source: Medical News Today
The information provided on CancerTreatment.net is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her health professional. This information is solely for informational purposes and does not constitute the practice of medicine. We encourage all visitors to see a licensed physician or nutritionist if they have any concerns regarding health issues related to diet, personal image and any other topics discussed on this site. Neither the owners or employees of CancerTreatment.net nor the author(s) of site content take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading this site. Always speak with your primary health care provider before engaging in any form of self treatment. Please see our Legal Statement for further information.
