Weight loss surgery’s connection to cancer prevention

Obesity’s link to cancer places greater emphasis on surgical intervention.

Obesity has been commonly linked to a variety of diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, and studies have also revealed its potentially deadly connection with a number of cancers.

“Having a higher body mass index absolutely places someone at a higher risk for cancer,” said C. Joe Northup, MD, FACS, bariatric weight loss surgeon with Premier Weight Loss Solutions. “Though we don’t exactly know all the mechanisms behind it, this is true with almost all types of cancers, especially those that are hormonally based such as breast cancer, recurrent breast cancer, uterine, cervical cancer, and prostate cancer. Generally speaking though, all types of cancer are affected by obesity.”

Weight loss surgery, which has become an increasingly effective tool for helping people overcome their battle with obesity and its more commonly associated disease states, has become an even more important resource for cancer prevention. Recent studies indicate that those who have reduced their body mass index (BMI) through weight loss surgery have five-year survivability rates that are 50 to 60 percent higher than those who have not.

“Research demonstrates what we’ve seen in the past regarding the reduction of cancer incidence,” said Dr. Northup, who practices with Premier Physician Network. “We’re seeing significant reduction, for example, in the incidence of breast cancer and increased survival in people who’ve have had it previously.”

Dr. Northup stresses the importance of understanding that weight has a direct impact upon any disease that has a hormonal component. Fatty tissues do much more than have a negative effect upon a person’s size and shape. He indicates that hormone secretion from endocrine glands as a result of increased fatty tissue is one of the key reasons why obese patients have a greater risk of cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

That risk is one major reason why Dr. Northup encourages those with a higher BMI to consult with their doctor about surgical intervention.

“Anyone with a high body mass index really needs to consider weight loss surgery and the impact it has upon their overall quality of life, their comorbidities,” said Dr. Northup. “This is especially true if a person has a history of cancer. In addition to all the medical problems we can improve, having weight loss surgery reduces your risks or incidence of developing cancer and increases survivability if you already had cancer”

For more information about weight loss surgery or to find a Premier Physician Network physician near you, visit www.PremierWeightLossSolutions.com.

Premier Physician Network is one of the largest groups of pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and urgent care practices in southwest Ohio. For more information, go online to www. premierphysiciannet.com.

‘Anyone with a high body mass index really needs to consider weight loss surgery and the impact it has upon their overall quality of life, their comorbidities.’