The mystery that led this family to get their stomachs removed
NPR • • health
Key Points:
- Karyn Paringatai discovered a troubling pattern of early deaths in her family, linked to a rare form of stomach cancer called diffuse gastric cancer, which affects many Māori families.
- Sarah Zhang, a staff writer at The Atlantic, has reported extensively on this cancer, explaining the genetic mutation responsible and the difficult choices faced by those carrying it.
- Individuals with the mutation must decide between risking death from cancer or undergoing surgery to remove their entire stomach as a preventive measure.
- The story and detailed discussion are featured on NPR's Short Wave podcast, hosted by Emily Kwong, with production credits to Rachel Carlson and others.
- Listeners interested in science topics can engage with Short Wave through email or by subscribing to the sponsor-free Short Wave+ service.
