Exposure to PFOS might contribute to the development and progression of stomach cancer
Stomach cancer occurs when cells in any part of the stomach grow and divide abnormally. Every year, roughly 26,500 Americans receive a stomach cancer diagnosis. The lifetime risk of developing it is 1 in 96 for men and 1 in 152 for women.
Diagnosing stomach cancer in the early phase is crucial for the veteran's prognosis, as when the disease spreads to other parts of the body, the survival rate drops from 70% to a grim 32%.
Therefore, veterans, especially men, should look out for the tell-tale signs of stomach cancer, which include:
- heartburn
- persistent indigestion
- feeling full after eating a small meal
- difficulty swallowing
- feeling bloated after eating
- pain in the stomach or breastbone
- feeling sick
- trapped wind and frequent burping
- frequent vomiting
According to a study from the American Journal of Surgery, at least one PFAS analyte was found in 97% of the serum samples and 41% of the tumor samples from patients with liver and stomach cancer. The patients with PFOS in tumor samples had significantly higher levels in serum compared to tumor samples without the chemical. Participants with liver and stomach cancer were found to have considerably higher levels of PFOS than the reported national levels. Furthermore, the patients with higher serum PFOS levels also had tumor-positive samples.
Heavy metals were also present in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune, particularly mercury. As much as 12 pounds of elemental mercury were found in a pipe at the water plant Hadnot Point. These metals directly or indirectly cause gastric mucosal and DNA lesions, which subsequently alter gene regulation, signal transduction, and cell growth, ultimately leading to carcinogenesis. Moreover, exposure to heavy metals enhances stomach cancer cell invasion and metastasis, according to a study from BioMed Research International. There are three potential mechanisms by which heavy metals induce gastric cancer, namely:
- damage to the gastric mucosal barrier
- ineffective DNA repair
- reactive oxygen species damage
Finally, according to a study from Cancer Causes & Control, a high risk of various gastrointestinal cancers has been suggested following exposure to toluene, a solvent that might have also lurked in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. Although the association between exposure to solvents and stomach cancer is not strong, these chemicals might contribute to the development and progression of the disease in veterans who drank toxic water at the military base.
