Page 44 - IJSA, Vol. 4, No 2, 2021

International Journal of Science Annals, Vol. 5, No. 1-2, 2022
рrint ISSN: 2617-2682; online ISSN: 2707-3637; DOI:10.26697/ijsa

Differences in the handling of the concept itself could be survival rates are typical for Japan (a country with a high
considered as an indicator of the degree of development mortality rate from stomach cancer): for advanced
(or stagnation) of these concerns in the respective stages (IIIB and IV) it is between 5-17%, for potentially
country, as they reveal the way in which a given curable stages (IV-II-IIIA) it is between 18-35%, for
phenomenon is thought of in a society (Arvanitis et al., early gastric cancer it is between 78-95%, with Japanese
1990; Klaschik, 2009). authors traditionally reporting higher survival for all
Comparing the different prevention approaches in stages (Krastev, 1980).
Bulgaria and in the countries of Western Europe, we Table 2 shows that in countries like Japan, where 20
could conclude that in Bulgaria the ongoing treatment years ago the incidence per 100,000 people was 77 only
and care of the terminally ill differ significantly in terms with changes in diet, lifestyle, and environment, it has
of the scope of the patients, rates of development and dropped to 42 per 100,000. This high survival rate in
effect on the patients. Japan is also due to the good palliative care (Japanese
The five-year survival rate in patients operated on for Ca Gastric Cancer Association, 2021; Kato & Asaka,
ventricles shows significant differences according to the 2012).
stage of the disease and is relatively low. The following

Table 2
Incidence, Prevention; 5-Year Survival of Stomach Cancer in Selected Countries

Incidence
Country Preventive measures Screening 5-year survival, %
(per 100,000 people)
Germany 13 Yes Yes, active 28-30
Bulgaria 14 No No 3
Singapore 37-39.2 Yes Yes, active 10-30*
Japan 42 Yes Yes, active 12-35*

Note. *1 - stage up to 90%.
st

The 5-year survival rate from stomach cancer in Bulgaria
is much lower than countries in Asia, where a Ethical Approval
significantly higher incidence per 100,000 population is The study protocol was consistent with the ethical
observed. The reasons for this are complex. One of the guidelines of the 1975 Declaration of Helsinki as
suspected reasons may be insufficient provision and reflected in a prior approval by the Institution’s Human
access to quality post-operative, long-term care and Research Committee.
palliative care. Another reason could be the difficult
access to the main method of detecting and proving Funding Source
gastric carcinoma, such as fibrogastroscopy and video- This research did not receive any outside funding or
assisted fibrogastroscopy with biopsy. These highly support.
specialized studies require precise, expensive equipment,
which is still extremely insufficient in Bulgaria. In References
addition, this equipment requires highly specialized Adolph, H., Berberich, H., Besseler, M., Beutel, M.,
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patients with familial adenomatous polyposis.

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