Can gastric band cause cancer?

Clinic Hunter

Can gastric band cause cancer?

Generally, weight loss surgeries help reduce the risk of some types of cancer (e.g. colon, endometrial, renal cell, breast cancer). It is not so clear whether it is purely due to weight loss surgery or just weight loss – what is known is that obesity significantly increases the risk of these cancers. The situation is slightly different with gastric cancer. There are some studies showing the increased tendency to develop gastric cancer among weight loss surgery patients, but there are also studies where such a relation is not found. For sure, the gastric band does not cause cancer, however, it might influence gastric cancer development in the future. The studies on this relation are constantly performed, so maybe in the future, we will be able to provide patients with a more clear answer.