Gastric cancer: risk factors in clients assisted in the tertiary care service at a municipality in the interior of São Paulo state

Abstract

This study was developed with gastric cancer patients submitted to surgery with the purpose to identify their exposure to risk factors for the disease. Twenty-four clients who had agreed to participate by signing an informed consent term and responding a semi-structured instrument elaborated according to the Health Field perspective were the subjects in the study. The data analysis allowed to identify that 50.1% referred to inadequate diet, smoking, alcoholism and psychological problems as the responsible factors. With regard to the consumption of food considered to be harmful, there was a tendency to larger consumption of canned food, sausages, smoked and barbecued meat and fried food in addition to diets with high sodium content. 66.7% smoke or used to smoke and 70.8% indicated the consumption of alcoholic drinks, preferably beer or distilled types. These data show the need to implement educational programs with the purpose to inform about risk factors aiming at health promotion.