A 13-year-old girl in China has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer after suffering from persistent abdominal pain and bloating for approximately a year.
By the time she was eventually admitted to hospital, the cancer had already spread to multiple organs and areas of her body, leaving doctors with limited treatment options.
Medical examinations revealed that the disease had progressed too extensively for surgery to be considered a curative option.
Cancer spreads to liver, ovaries and abdominal cavity
According to reports by Taiwanese media outlet UDN, the girl was in extremely poor health when she finally received medical attention.
Her family had reportedly mistaken her recurring stomach discomfort for ordinary digestive problems, delaying a proper medical assessment until her condition deteriorated.
An enhanced CT scan subsequently detected a malignant tumour in her stomach. Further examinations revealed that the cancer had spread to her liver, abdominal cavity, retroperitoneal area, omentum and both ovaries.
Doctors diagnosed her with gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma, an aggressive subtype of stomach cancer known for its tendency to spread.
Given the extensive spread of the disease, doctors said she had already missed the opportunity for potentially curative surgery.
Frequent consumption of preserved and processed food
Doctors investigating the girl’s medical history discovered that her regular diet frequently included homemade pickled dishes and salt-baked food.
When proper meals were unavailable, she would reportedly turn to instant noodles and barbecued food.
Her eating habits were said to have contributed to chronic malnutrition and poor overall health.
Medical examinations also detected a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The bacterium can infect the stomach, cause inflammation and increase the risk of developing stomach cancer over time.
H. pylori can spread through close contact and contaminated food or water.
The hospital’s gastroenterology director, Tang Weihong, explained that both the girl’s dietary habits and H. pylori infection were potential contributing risk factors affecting her stomach health.
However, it is important to note that eating processed food does not automatically lead to stomach cancer. The development of the disease can involve multiple factors, including bacterial infections, genetics and long-term dietary habits.
Doctor urges parents to take persistent symptoms seriously
Dr Tang cautioned parents against assuming that children and teenagers are too young to develop serious gastrointestinal conditions.
She advised families to seek medical attention when children experience recurring abdominal pain, persistent bloating or unexplained loss of appetite.
While these symptoms can be caused by relatively common digestive problems, prolonged or worsening discomfort should not be dismissed without proper assessment.
She also encouraged families to reduce their consumption of heavily salted and preserved foods, maintain a balanced diet and undergo appropriate medical examinations when necessary.
The case serves as a reminder that persistent stomach problems deserve attention, regardless of a person’s age.
Parents should pay attention to changes in their children’s health and seek professional advice when symptoms continue rather than relying solely on assumptions about their cause.