A Dauphin County family has a rare genetic mutation associated with stomach cancer. Dawn Bower had trouble swallowing and other problems. She tested positive for her genetic mutation CDH1. Her three siblings were then tested, two of whom, Deb Salzaberger and Dan Lehi, also tested positive. This gene encodes a protein that helps cells stick together, and mutations cause the syndrome, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. “I thought it was acid reflux and bloating from eating too many bread products, but it wasn’t,” Lehi said. All three brothers underwent gastrectomy surgery at Pennsylvania Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Oncologist June Penn attached a section of the intestine to the esophagus. “Up to 40% of gastric cancers in these patients have significant cancer, so prophylactic gastrectomy, which involves removing the entire stomach, is recommended,” she said. preventive surgery. Post-surgery tests revealed that Dawn, Debbie and Daniel had early-stage cancer. The brothers believe other family members who died later also had stomach cancer. A Lehi eats only about 10 ounces of food at a meal, and everything must be cut into very small pieces. His weight dropped from about 260 pounds to 187 pounds. Bower also lost a lot of weight after the operation, but she said, “I hope this weight stops because it was a nightmare when I had to have surgery.”
A rare gene mutation linked to stomach cancer was found in a Dauphin County family.
Dawn Bower had trouble swallowing and other problems. She tested positive for her genetic mutation CDH1. Her three siblings were then tested, two of whom, Deb Salzaberger and Dan Lehi, also tested positive. This gene encodes a protein that helps cells stick together, and mutations cause the syndrome, hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.
“I thought it was acid reflux and bloating from eating too many bread products, but it wasn’t,” says Lehi.
All three brothers underwent gastrectomy surgery at Pennsylvania Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Surgeon oncologist June Penn attached a section of the intestine to the esophagus.
“Up to 40% of gastric cancers in these patients are associated with significant cancers,” he said.
Post-operative tests revealed that Dawn, Debbie, and Daniel had early-stage cancer. The brothers believe other family members who died later also had stomach cancer.
A Lehi only eats about 10 ounces of food at one meal, and everything must be cut very small. He lost weight from about 260 pounds to 187 pounds.
Bower, who also lost a lot of weight after the operation, said, “I hope it’s over because it was a nightmare when I had to have the surgery.”
