Toby Keith has died following a two-year battle with stomach cancer.
Following the death of the country singer, which happened on Monday night, doctors have opened up about the condition that may start at the gastroesophageal junction and the signs that people should watch out for.
Doctors Want Individuals to Pay Better Attention to What’s Going on in Their Stomachs
The health problems that led to Keith’s death at the age of 62 were not news to the public. In June 2022, the country singer revealed on social media that she had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021 and had already undergone chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.
Then, in June 2023, he informed the media that his tumor had shrunk by a third, and that he was still undergoing chemotherapy. In addition, he mentioned receiving immunotherapy, a treatment that helps the immune system target cancer cells.
Now, after his death, medical experts are once again emphasizing the importance of recognizing the signs of stomach cancer. These symptoms include acid reflux, heartburn, anemia, nausea, pain after eating, ulcers, early satiety after eating small portions, or unexplained weight loss.
According to Dr. Fabian Johnston, chief of gastrointestinal oncology at Johns Hopkins Medicine, many symptoms of stomach cancer may seem harmless. However, they can be deceiving, leading to a delayed diagnosis. Acid reflux, for example, is often overlooked as harmless, which can result in a late-stage diagnosis.
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Although stomach cancer is relatively rare, with about 27,000 new cases estimated in 2024, it still accounts for about 1.5% of new cancer diagnoses in the United States each year.
Although the overall rate of stomach cancer diagnoses has decreased slightly over the past decade, there is still an alarming increase in rates among adults under the age of 50 for reasons that are not yet understood.
Speaking of which, Dr. Ben Schlechter, a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, states:
“There’s something going on — something we’re eating, something we’re eating, some combination of modern and present factors — that’s causing this increase in cancer in young people.”
Schlechter notes that while tobacco and alcohol were once important contributing factors to stomach cancer, they now play a role in only a minority of cases in the United States, potentially due to declining smoking rates.
Instead, many new cases are linked to chronic acid reflux or infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria, which is known to cause stomach inflammation. As Schlechter explains:
“It is an unfortunate disease. It may be related to H. pylori infection. There may be a history of heartburn or reflux, but it’s usually not very obvious.”
Despite the lack of clarity, Schlechter states:
“It doesn’t mean people will die. This means that the tools we have to cure it are quite limited. People are doing better than they were 15 years ago, but we’re nowhere near the level of, say, breast cancer, where the majority of people are cured with surgery and chemotherapy and things like that.
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Regarding Keith’s passing, The Blast observed that an announcement was made by the “As Good As I Once Was” hitmaker’s family on Facebook. They wrote:
“Toby Keith passed away peacefully last night on February 5, surrounded by his family. He fought his battle with grace and courage. Please respect his family’s privacy at this time.”
Toby Keith Publicly Praises His Spouse For Her Unwavering Commitment
Shortly before his death, Keith left behind a touching testimony of the importance of his beloved wife, Tricia Lucus, during her battle with stomach cancer. Crediting her longtime partner for her unwavering strength and support throughout her treatment journey, she shared:
“He used to be a trouper. She is the best nurse. The first time we went to Houston, to the hospital, he walked in, and he just took control and said, ‘We got this. Let’s go.’ So he was like, ‘We’re going to get this, and don’t worry about it.’”
The Blast recalls that Keith and Lucus first met after the country music icon graduated high school. During that period, the “American Soldier” singer climbed the ladder to fame by working in the oil fields during the day and entertaining crowds in bars at night.
After three years of dating, the couple exchanged vows in March 1984. Reflecting on their union in 1991, Lucus recounted how Keith consistently made her feel valued. In his words:
“Most people think she’s the most romantic person on the planet. She has her moments of charm. It’s nice to get a bouquet of flowers, but I’ve told her, ‘Save the money. Roses die in five to seven days. Buy me a dress or take me dinner.'”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
