A CDH1 gene mutation runs in my family. We discovered it because my mom was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Subsequent genetic testing confirmed she inherited from her father a CDH1 gene mutation that is associated with stomach…

Gastrectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove some or all of the patient’s stomach. Three main kinds of gastrectomy exist. First, partial gastrectomy. If the surgeons remove only part of the stomach, it is called a…

Total stomach removal will no doubt result in some lifestyle adjustments during the first 12 months after surgery. However, after 12 months, you will most likely be living a fairly normal life. In 2015, a team of…

Total gastrectomy surgery can sound like a crazy recommendation. When I first heard that I might need to have my stomach removed, my first thought was “no way.” That’s crazy. Now that I have had one, I…

Prophylactic total gastrectomy. After deciding whether to have one, you will need to decide when to have it. For many medical conditions, a sense of urgency for surgery exists because of existing symptoms. In those instances, the…

A CDH1 mutation. That’s what makes me special. Unlike most other 33-year-olds, I have been diagnosed with two different types of cancer in less than two years. These cancers don’t recognize economic status, lifestyle, or other health…

CDH1 research is a relatively new area in certain respects. In 1999, a medical researcher in New Zealand named Dr. Parry Guilford and his colleagues discovered the connection between CDH1 mutations and cancers of the stomach and…

I inherited my mother’s sense of humor. I inherited her love for healthcare, as we are both nurses. I inherited her love for running. She is an impressive 20-time marathon runner. I have just five under my…

How do you live without a stomach? People ask me this almost every time I tell them I don’t have a stomach. Frankly, I usually don’t know how to answer this question. That’s because I don’t know…

Living without a stomach is not always easy, but it is easier than you may think. Generally, I eat whatever I want. Though I tend to focus on foods that are easy to digest, calorie dense, and…