Total gastrectomy is a modern development in medicine. From 2005 to 2018, several centers have studies outcomes of this procedure. Below, details of the studies are listed for comparison. At the end, I’ve included a table with…

Can you live without a stomach? Great question. People have been asking it since at least the early 1600s. Despite that being over 400 years ago, I believe it’s safe to say that total gastrectomy is a…

If you have no stomach, nutrition is compromised, right? Gastrectomy patients often worry about diet and nutrition following removal of a portion of – or the entire stomach – due to cancer or other disease process, as…

The CDH1 gene provides the genetic code for producing epithelial cadherin, a protein critical for cell adhesion, tumor suppression, and several other functions.  Epithelial cadherin, also called E-cadherin, is a protein found in epithelial cells. Specifically, e-cadherin…

Eating without a stomach can present challenges. Due to changes in the body’s ability to absorb nutrients after surgery, this is especially true when it comes to making sure you have an adequate intake of certain vitamins…

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…

Did you know that without a stomach you cannot properly absorb naturally occurring iron?  Maintaining proper iron levels is very important. Therefore, iron supplements become a necessity to avoid becoming anemic. Iron is essential for blood production,…

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…

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…

Can a person live without a stomach? Not only can people live without a stomach, many people after total gastrectomy surgery are thriving without a stomach. Despite the success many people have living without a stomach, asking…