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A Network for Gastric Cancer Patients, Survivors and Families

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Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC)

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On January - 29 - 2010

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world.

The American Cancer Society estimated that 21,500 new cases of stomach (gastric) cancer would be diagnosed in the United States in 2008.1 Because gastric cancer is difficult to diagnose, it is often discovered in patients at a late stage with a poor prognosis. The treatment for gastric cancer is surgery and chemotherapy;2 however, the overall 5-year survival rate is low, at 24.3%.1

It is estimated that 1-3% of cases of gastric cancer are caused by Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer.2 Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) is an inherited cancer syndrome that leads to an increased risk for both diffuse gastric cancer and lobular breast cancer in women. Patients who inherit the genetic mutation for HDGC are at high risk for developing gastric cancer at a young age.3 Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer

“Top Medical Advances of the Decade” include mapping the human genome; CDH1 gene mutation is example

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On December - 30 - 2009

Watch the video about Mapping the Human Genome and Stomach Cancer.

“Good Morning America” considers the discovery of genetic markers such as the one causing HDGC to be one of the top medical advances of the decade. Stomach cancer is mentioned specifically in this video from December 29, 2009 featuring Dr. Tim Johnson’s descriptions of medical breakthroughs. We are confident that the efforts of all of us impacted by HDGC and other diffuse gastric cancers, have already resulted in this national coverage: one small step in educating the world, on our journey to prevent gastric cancer and ultimately to find a cure!

Education, Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer

HDGC Research: In pursuit of stomach cancer prevention

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On November - 11 - 2009

A  prestigious James Cook Fellowship has been awarded to researcher Parry Guilford, University of Otazo, New Zealand, to pursue innovative research aimed at reversing or preventing the very early stages of stomach cancer.

Read Parry Guilford’s personal post detailing his exciting research plan for HDGC / CDH1 gene research.  His two year fellowship will begin in March, 2010.

 

The University of Otago announces Parry Guilford’s exciting award for  stomach cancer research.

More information about The Royal Society of New Zealand James Cook Research Fellowships.

Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Research

CDH1 gene mutation causes stomach cancer: How is it inherited?

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On November - 7 - 2009

CDH1 Mutations and Inheritance

By Amy Stettner, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor
Madison, WI

Our bodies are made up of trillions of tiny cells. We have skin cells, muscle cells, bone cells, stomach cells, etc. Each cell contains a copy of our genetic code. This genetic code is made up of DNA and is packaged into structures called chromosomes. Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Front, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer: British Columbia Cancer Agency Research Update June 2009

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On June - 22 - 2009

Current Research Projects of the Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer Research Team at the British Columbia Cancer Agency.

David Huntsman, Pardeep Kaurah
 

Over the last 10 years, we have learnt a lot about hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC). However, there are still many critical knowledge deficits which need to be addressed to improve the cancer control of families with known CDH1 mutations and to inform the care of families with strong histories of gastric cancer of whom known mutations have been identified.

 

Our research team is both collaborating with other members of the International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium (IGCLC) to develop a more accurate understanding of the cancer risks associated with carrying CDH1 mutations, and is performing research locally that should help our global research community move forward.

 

Studies we are actively engaged in include: Read the rest of this entry »

Front, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Research

TV New Zealand Close Up: The Kiwis who inspired a Grey’s plot

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On June - 14 - 2009

View an uplifting and interesting Close Up news broadcast about Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC) on TV New Zealand featuring Parry Guilford, the scientist who first identified HDGC and the CDH1 gene mutation that causes HDGC.  His discovery, only eleven years new, has been saving so many lives, including in the Chelcun family and many other families worldwide.  The Close Up includes interviews with the original families in whom HDGC was first identified.  We must find ways to fund the promising research that will ultimately lead to the prevention of this particular cancer as well as other related cancers.

Families, Fundraising, Genetics, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, News, Research

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC): A Resource for You

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On June - 13 - 2009

HDGC...Now What?

Be sure to visit HDGC…Now What?

 

You, or someone close to you has been diagnosed with HDGC.  Now what?  The search is on, for information, for support, for encouragement.

  
We are committed to developing this network, a valuable source of credible and useful information.  Join our community of support for all of those touched by HDGC or other types of stomach cancer.  Your participation can be as little or as much as you desire.  You decide. Read the rest of this entry »

Education, Families, Fundraising, Gastrectomy, General, Genetics, Get Involved, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer, Mind, Body, Spirit, News, Nutrition, Pregnancy, Research

Cancer Genetics Group in Portugal: Focus on the genetics of gastric, breast, and colorectal carcinoma

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On May - 22 - 2009

Group name/Designation:

Cancer Genetics

 

Group Leader:

Raquel Seruca

Principal Investigators related to gastric cancer research:
Carla Oliveira ( HDGC molecular genetics),
Fátima Carneiro ( Molecular Pathology),
Gianpaolo Suriano and Jose Carlos Machado ( Gastric cancer related signalling pathways)
Céu Figueiredo (Helicobacter pylori related research)

 

Principal Investigators related to breast cancer research:
Joana Paredes (Signalling pathways related to breast cancer invasion), 
Fernando Schmitt ( Molecular pathology),

Location of the Group (Host- Institution):

 IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal

  

General Objectives of the Group

The research of our group focuses on the genetics of three common types of epithelial cancer: gastric, breast, and colorectal carcinoma. We focus at identifying 1) germline genetic alterations (high and low penetrance genes) associated with increased risk of these tumours; 2) pathological features and somatic molecular markers occurring in the setting of hereditary and sporadic carcinomas; 3) signalling pathways mediated by genetic and gene-environmental factors in tumour development in order to find molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Read the rest of this entry »

Front, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Lobular Breast Cancer, Research

Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer: NZ Research Update May 2009

Posted by Parry Guilford On May - 7 - 2009

Hereditary diffuse gastric cancer: Research update May 2009

Parry Guilford, Bostjan Humar, Helen More and Soroush Nasri; Cancer Genetics Laboratory, University of Otago

The lab has two HDGC research projects in progress at the moment. The first which is being carried out by Helen More in collaboration with our colleagues in Munich, Vancouver and New York, and funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council, aims to get a better understanding of the clinical importance of some fairly common variants in the CDH1 gene. Read the rest of this entry »

Front, HDGC, Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer, Research

Kia Kaha

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On March - 21 - 2009

By Ryan Gay
Kernersville News, NC
March 2009
lisa-foster-england

The stomach is an organ many people take for granted, not really thinking about how much it helps the body. Except in instances of allergies or diets we don’t really have to concern ourselves with what we eat or when we eat.

There is simply a familiar pang in our abdomen that tells us our body needs to eat.

For one local woman, keeping her body fueled is not that easy.

Due to a genetic mutation that caused two stomach cancers, Lisa Foster England had to have her stomach removed.

Just over a decade ago, a scientist in New Zealand was studying an aboriginal people known as the Maori and discovered a mutation that greatly increases the risk of a deadly stomach cancer that is hard to detect.

The official name of the gene is cadherin 1, type 1, E-cadherin (epithelial), more commonly known as CDH1. Read the rest of this entry »

Families, Genetics, News

No Stomach For Food - Or Cancer

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On March - 8 - 2009

By David Wahlberg
Wisconsin State Journal
March 2009

Karen and Sons

She never gets hungry. Regular meals make her sick. She can’t eat and drink at the same time.

Karen Chelcun Schreiber has no stomach.

It’s not that her stomach is mostly bypassed like after weight-loss surgery. She has no stomach at all. She had the bean-shaped organ removed last summer.

Read the article in its entirety  . . .  No Stomach For Food - Or Cancer

Families, Genetics, News

Going Under the Knife to Head Off Cancer

Posted by Karen Chelcun Schreiber On March - 2 - 2009

By Radha Chitale
ABC News Medical Unit
March 2009

brian-greg

Prophylactic Surgery One Option for Those at Risk of Cancer

 

Few wouldn’t balk at the idea of prophylactic surgery — the removal a healthy organ or gland that shows no sign of cancer in order to prevent cancer from developing in that organ or gland.

 

Brian Chelcun with his father, Greg, in 2007. Brian had a prophylactic operation to remove his stomach two weeks ago, soon after his father died of stomach cancer on February 8th.

(WCVB)

In other words, prophylactic surgery involves cutting from the body a perfectly fine organ.

Or a ticking time bomb.

Or a perfectly fine organ.

And that is the dilemma facing a segment of the population who, due to family history, genetics or personal medical history, are saddled with a higher risk of cancer than the rest of the population and may have to take drastic steps to prevent a disease that kills over half a million Americans each year.

But Brian Chelcun, 26, never wavered for a moment.

“I was seeing my dad go through the effects of having stage IV stomach cancer,” said Brian, whose father died Feb. 8 of the disease. Chelcun was released from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston last week after a gastrectomy to remove his stomach.

“Here’s a chance to avoid going through something that is so hard, and difficult to cure,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

Families, Genetics, News
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    • Karen Chelcun Schreiber wrote on Cathy O’s wire:   1 hour, 42 minutes ago

      I’m thinking of you Cathy and sending positive energy your way. Good luck to you! Keep writing, let us know how you are progressing. Lots of questions come up after TG - post them! We’re all out here, ready to help in any way we can.

    • Cathy O wrote on their own wire:   5 hours, 26 minutes ago

      Tomorrow is the big G day. I have been wined and dined, and tead and lunched. Haven’t gained any significant weight though, food in equals food out for me.
      I am pretty calm about the surgery. Thank you to this site for all of the information. There IS life after gastrectomy and [...]

    • Karen Chelcun Schreiber wrote a new blog post: A story of hope: Elizabeth Lambert shares her family story   12 hours, 31 minutes ago

      Elizabeth Lambert, a teacher and a member of the Board of Directors of No Stomach For Cancer, Inc., is dedicated to raising awareness and educating the public about diffuse stomach cancer.  Like many others, her family has been affected by a hereditary form of stomach cancer. 

      The Chronicle aired a program about genetics on January 22, [...]

    • Tammy Ayson wrote on Cecily Wilson Guiney’s wire:   2 days, 3 hours ago

      Thank you so much for your message Cecily. I think it is just amazing that we can ‘chat’ to others just like ourselves, even if we are oceans apart. I still feel amazed at how well my recovery has gone thus far and it is just lovely to read other personal stories that reassure me [...]

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    • Chris updated the “Bio” information on their profile   4 days, 16 hours ago

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