ELEVEN members of one family had their stomachs removed after genetic testing showed that they would probably die young from a rare hereditary form of cancer.
The disease had killed many of their relatives but doctors were able to identify the faulty gene in time to save them.
Of 17 family members tested for the CDH1 gene, 11 proved positive and they have now had pre-emptive surgery. Doctors said that they were the largest family group to protect themselves against cancer by having their stomachs removed.
Although none showed signs of stomach cancer, tests on the tissue doctors removed revealed the early stages of malignant tumours buried deep inside.
“If we hadn’t had the surgery, we could be dead by now,” said Kitty Elliott, who had the operation in 2004 together with her two sisters.
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David Huntsman, of the University of British Columbia, who detected the gene in the family, said: “Rather than live in fear, they tackled their genetic destiny head-on. When they got an opportunity to do something about it, they all supported each other. They’re all going to live to be grandparents.”
Bill Bradfield, who had the operation in March, the last of the family to do so, said: “We’re all going to die of something, but I know I won’t die of stomach cancer.”
Although they can still digest food through the small intestine, patients with no stomachs typically must eat smaller meals. Salads and vegetables are hard to digest. “I was in bed nine hours on Christmas Day for eating three Brussels sprouts,” Mrs Elliott said.