Seven out of every ten Mexicans have the helicobacter pylori bacteria in their bodies, linked to gastric cancer, which in Mexico is suffered by approximately 20 out of every 100,000 inhabitants, making it the sixth most common tumor in the country, according to the Mexican Association of Gastroenterology (AMG).
AMG specialists warned that this bacteria has a high presence worldwide – it is found in around 50% of the population -, a figure that increases to 70% in Mexico, and pointed out that it is a “risk factor” in the development of gastric cancer, which is more present in Mexico City or in states such as Chiapas or Guerrero.
In fact, they warned that the bacteria is an infectious cause for developing this cancer, the fifth most common in the world, which is why they drew attention to the importance of prevention to avoid contracting this stomach bacteria.
According to the president of the AMG, Dr. José María Remes-Troche, prevention at an early age is “fundamental,” and he opted to educate the population on this matter given that, he stated, said cancer can be prevented in 90% of cases, especially if it is detected in time.
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Likewise, experts stressed that the contagion of the bacteria linked to gastric cancer can be contracted in different ways, although they drew attention to direct contagion from person to person in the family environment or due to contact with contaminated water, as well as the type of diet or other daily habits.
“If a mother has it (the bacteria), the possibility of passing it to her children increases thirteen times,” said the vice president of the AMG, Alejandra Noble, before pointing out that advanced age, overcrowding in small homes or not having water to wash hands are risk factors that increase the probability of suffering from this condition.
“This handwashing is very important. Many times we come home and do not wash our hands, and they are very important and easy to implement measures,” he concluded.
In Mexico, about 6,000 cases of gastric cancer are detected each year, according to data from the Ministry of Health.
With information from EFE
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