Emily Kwong

She recently wrote a story on Maori families like Karen's, where long lines of people have died from a rare form of stomach cancer called diffuse gastric cancer.

It causes cancerous cells to percolate undetected in the stomach lining, only becoming obvious in advanced stages.

But by then, it's usually too late to treat.

That's what happened to Karen's cousin.

Now, if she tested positive for this mutation...

Karen would have a 70% chance of developing this form of cancer.

She does get tested and she finds out she is positive for the mutation.

But then doctors tell Karen about one unexpected life-saving option.

She can get surgery to get her entire stomach removed.

Her reaction is just like, what do you mean?

Like, can you live without a stomach?

And Sarah says both options come with risks.

A 70% chance of deadly cancer?

or surgery with a 100% chance of significant side effects.

Today on the show, life without a stomach.

How Maori families have advanced scientific understanding of a rare form of stomach cancer and are beating the odds of survival.

I'm Emily Kwong, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

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