(NEXSTAR) — Nation singer-songwriter Toby Keith has died on the age of 62, representatives confirmed on Tuesday.
Based on an announcement posted to Keith’s Fb web page, the nation star “handed peacefully” Monday evening “surrounded by his household.”
“He fought his combat with grace and braveness,” the assertion continued. A reason for demise was not listed.
His demise comes greater than two years after he was recognized with abdomen most cancers. On the time, Keith mentioned he acquired his analysis within the fall of 2021 and had spent six months receiving chemotherapy, radiation and surgical procedure. It’s unclear if he was nonetheless receiving remedy on the time of his demise.
In September, Keith informed E! Information that his journey had been “a curler coaster.”
Listed here are 5 issues to find out about abdomen most cancers.
What’s abdomen most cancers and the way frequent is it?
Typically often called gastric most cancers, abdomen most cancers begins like many others: cells begin to develop “uncontrolled” within the abdomen, the American Most cancers Society explains. It usually develops slowly and might begin in several sections of the abdomen, inflicting completely different signs and even completely different outcomes.
Based on the Mayo Clinic, within the U.S., the most cancers is extra more likely to begin the place the esophagus meets the abdomen. The Cleveland Clinic notes that most often, abdomen most cancers will begin within the abdomen lining and progress slowly. It could actually then trigger a mass, or tumor, and develop deeper into the abdomen partitions if left untreated. That tumor might additionally unfold in your stomach.
Whereas it’s the fifth-most frequent most cancers worldwide, abdomen most cancers isn’t quite common within the U.S. It accounted for lower than 2% of all most cancers diagnoses within the nation final 12 months, in accordance with estimates from the Nationwide Most cancers Institute. The American Most cancers Society estimates roughly 27,000 new circumstances can be recognized in 2024, most of which can be amongst males.
Who’s almost definitely to get abdomen most cancers?
Whereas anybody can get abdomen most cancers, the Nationwide Most cancers Institute says males are twice as more likely to get it than girls. It’s additionally recognized extra usually amongst Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islanders and American Indians than amongst white sufferers.
The dangers of abdomen most cancers enhance with age, the NCI explains, including that there are a selection of different threat components, however various factors can enhance the dangers of it growing in several elements of the abdomen.
Different identified threat components, in accordance with the Cleveland Clinic, embrace a household historical past of abdomen most cancers; turning into contaminated with Helicobacter pylori micro organism or the Epstein-Barr virus; gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux illness, or GERD; a historical past of abdomen ulcers or polyps; extreme alcohol use; smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco; weight problems, and frequent publicity to coal, metallic, and rubber. A poor eating regimen — like one excessive in fatty, salty, smoked or pickled meals, or one which lacks vegetables and fruit — also can enhance the danger of abdomen most cancers.
What are the signs of abdomen most cancers?
There could also be no signs till the abdomen most cancers turns into extra superior, Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic clarify.
Signs which will seem embrace a lack of urge for food, hassle swallowing, nausea and vomiting, unexplained weight reduction, fatigue or weak point, heartburn and indigestion, black stool, vomiting blood, feeling bloated or gassy after consuming, abdomen ache (generally above the stomach button), not feeling hungry when you must and feeling full, even after a small meal.
Nevertheless, well being consultants word these signs aren’t restricted to simply abdomen most cancers.
How is abdomen most cancers recognized and might it’s handled?
There is no such thing as a normal screening check for abdomen most cancers within the U.S., in accordance with the NCI. Those that are at a better threat of getting it might endure a screening with an higher endoscopy, which permits a healthcare supplier to watch the esophagus, abdomen and the primary a part of the small gut.
Different testing can embrace an endoscopic ultrasound, radiologic testing (reminiscent of a CT scan or MRI), and blood assessments.
How abdomen most cancers is handled can range primarily based on the kind of most cancers and the way far alongside it has superior. Based on the Mayo Clinic, remedy choices embrace surgical procedure, chemotherapy, radiation, focused remedy, immunotherapy and palliative care.
Surgical procedure can vary extensively. Within the early phases, this might embrace slicing away “very small cancers” from the abdomen’s lining. If the most cancers is situated close to the small gut, part of the abdomen could also be eliminated. If it’s nearer to the esophagus, the whole abdomen could also be eliminated, the Mayo Clinic explains.
What’s the survival charge of abdomen most cancers?
The Cleveland Clinic studies that, in its early phases, abdomen most cancers might be cured. However, because it progresses, the survival charge can lower.
“The 5-year survival charge for abdomen most cancers could also be as excessive as 70% (for little unfold) or as little as 6% (for superior unfold),” the healthcare system studies.
Therapies may help management the most cancers and delay life, even when it can’t be cured, the Mayo Clinic notes. A number of components can affect a prognosis, together with your general well being and if the most cancers is responding to remedy.
In 2023, the NCI estimates there have been greater than 11,000 deaths associated to abdomen most cancers, accounting for lower than 2% of all most cancers deaths.
In case you are involved you will have abdomen most cancers, well being consultants suggest talking along with your healthcare supplier.
