Bariatric Surgery May Reduce the Risk of Cancer

Bariatric surgery is more than a weight loss solution; it may significantly reduce the risk of obesity-related health issues, including certain types of cancer. This article explores the possible association between obesity and cancer, the different types of bariatric surgery available, and the importance of proper nutrition post-surgery. Here, you’ll discover how bariatric surgery can be a transformative step toward better health.

Why Do People Have Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a medical procedure designed to help individuals improve their health and lower their risk of potentially life-threatening weight-related health problems. Some of these conditions include certain cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

Which Cancers Are Related to Obesity?

41.9% of adults in the US are impacted by obesity, and another 30.7% of adults are overweight. People whose weight is considered to be higher than that as described as normal have an increased risk of developing 13 kinds of cancer. These are:

1. adenocarcinoma, a form of esophageal cancer,
2. breast cancer (in postmenopausal women),
3. colon and rectum cancer, also known as colorectal cancer,
4. uterine cancer (cancer of the uterus),
5. gallbladder cancer,
6. stomach cancer, particularly of the upper stomach,
7. kidney cancer,
8. liver cancer,
9. ovarian cancer (cancer of the ovaries),
10. pancreatic cancer (cancer of the pancreas),
11. thyroid cancer,
12. meningioma, a type of brain cancer, and
13. multiple myeloma cancer (cancer of the blood cells).

How Can Obesity Lead to Cancer?

Here are three key factors that illustrate how obesity can lead to cancer.

• Chronic Inflammation: Inflammation is the body’s normal response to infection, stress, and injury. Excess weight is a disease of inflammation. This chronic inflammation leads to the damaged tissue releasing chemical that tell the white blood cells to start repairing. This long-term repairing process can lead to a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
• Estrogen: A higher-than-normal percentage of body fat can lead to higher-than-normal estrogen levels. Estrogen is a hormone that can lead to damage in cells and the DNA in them, which increases the risk of certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• Insulin Resistance: Inflammation can impair the body’s response to insulin. If you’re impacted by insulin resistance, you’re more likely to create more fat cells than other individuals and not be able to break them down. This increase in cell production means there is a greater opportunity for cancer to develop.

Bariatric Surgery and Cancer Treatment Outcomes

Some doctors recommend weight loss surgery to improve cancer treatment outcomes. Losing excess weight can reduce inflammation, improve how the body responds to treatments, and make certain therapies more effective. It can also help manage related health issues like diabetes and heart disease, which can complicate cancer treatment. By achieving a healthier weight, patients may see better results from their cancer treatments and have an improved outlook on their overall health.

Bariatric Surgery and Reduced Cancer Risk

A study published in Cancers shared that bariatric surgery was associated with a 55% reduction in cancer risk. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery for obesity had a 27% to 59% lower risk of developing cancer compared to individuals of the same weight and age. The highest reduction in risk is seen in cancers linked to obesity.

It is important to note that while bariatric surgery may reduce overall cancer risk, risk of certain types of cancer, and cancer-related death, it doesn’t completely rid someone of cancer risk or reduce their risk beyond that of a normal-weight individual. They should still follow all the same standard age-appropriate cancer prevention recommendations and screening guidelines.

What Are the Types of Bariatric Surgery?

Understanding the various types of bariatric surgery options available can help individuals make informed decisions about their weight loss journey. Discuss these options with your healthcare provider to determine the best choice for your health needs.

Gastric Sleeve

A gastric sleeve, or sleeve gastrectomy procedure, induces weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach. It removes approximately 80% of the stomach, resulting in a tubular sleeve that resembles the size and shape of a banana. Reducing the size of your stomach restricts the amount of food you can eat in one sitting and results in a shift in your hormones that play a role in hunger and fullness.

The gastric sleeve is currently the most commonly performed weight loss surgery.

Gastric Bypass

A gastric bypass, or Roux-en-Y procedure, reduces the size of the stomach and length of the small intestine. Now, food that goes through the digestive system bypasses most of the stomach and the first part of the small intestine, meaning you’ll absorb fewer calories and nutrients. This procedure also results in a shift in the hormones that play a role in hunger and fullness.

Gastric Band Surgery

Gastric band surgery involves surgically implanting a device to help those with obesity lose weight. The adjustable gastric band reduces the size of your stomach without permanently dividing it like other surgeries. The Lap-Band®, which was FDA-approved in 2011, is the only brand currently available in the US. While impacting the amount of food it takes someone to feel full, it does not impact the hormones that play a role in hunger and fullness.

Duodenal Switch and SADI-S

A duodenal switch starts out like a gastric sleeve but then bypasses far more intestines. This results in the greatest level of malabsorption for both calories and nutrients but often also the most opportunity for effectiveness when it comes to long-term weight loss and remission of obesity-related co-morbid conditions.

The SADI-S procedure is similar to a duodenal switch in that it starts with a gastric sleeve but what makes it different lies in its structure. A SADI-S procedure has a single connection between the stomach and small intestine, whereas a duodenal switch has two. Additionally, most SADI-S procedures have a little less intestine removed making it slightly less malabsorptive when compared to duodenal switch while still being a very effective procedure.

Why Do Bariatric Patients Need Vitamins?

After weight loss surgery, it’s essential to get the right amount of vitamins and minerals for your recovery, overall health, and weight loss. That is because you’ll be eating less food, your body may not absorb nutrients like before, and you may even be on medications that impact the absorption of certain nutrients.

Supplemental vitamins and minerals needed include iron, calcium, copper, folate, zinc, and vitamins A, B1, B12, D, and K.

Best Multivitamin After Bariatric Surgery

Are you looking for the best multivitamin after bariatric surgery? One that is sugar-free, packed with nutrients, and easy to digest? ProCare Health has you covered!

Our Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin | Capsule delivers 22 essential nutrients and is gluten-free, lactose-free, and easy to swallow. The vegetable-based capsule is also fast dissolving, so having less stomach acid is not a problem.

For a chewy alternative, try our Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin | Chewable soft, easy-to-chew tablets. If you need something more specific, our Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule | DS / SADI is specifically formulated for those who had the duodenal switch or SADI procedure.

Meet Your Nutritional Needs With ProCare Health

Ideally, your vitamin should be high quality, cost-effective, and meet all of your nutritional needs. As such, ProCare Health is dedicated to providing customers with the best quality vitamins at the best possible prices.

To get started, visit our online store and contact us with any questions!