No Stomach for Stomach Cancer

When people are diagnosed with stomach cancer, teacher Beth Lambert wants them to know, they are not alone.

In fact, stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the world.

Despite that, she believes that stomach cancer receives little publicity, particularly in comparison to other forms of cancer that have major awareness campaigns.

But she is helping to change this. November has been officially designated as stomach cancer awareness month.

During this month, Grafton High School students and staff are working with her to help people recognize that stomach cancer can take a devastating toll on a family.

Lambert would know. Her brother, Steve Walsh, died of stomach cancer five years ago this month.

Genetic testing showed that she carried the same gene her brother had. Based on the genetic findings, doctors gave her an 83 percent chance of developing stomach cancer.

Facing these terrible odds, she chose to have her stomach removed.

After her surgery, doctors found pre-cancerous cells in her stomach. Because stomach cancer can be difficult to detect and many of its symptoms mirror less serious health issues, Lambert believes “the surgery definitely saved my life.’’

With her stomach removed, her esophagus was attached to her small intestine.

She faced a challenging adjustment, learning which foods made her uncomfortable and having to eat small, frequent meals rather than sitting down to a big portion.

“It was overwhelming at first’’ to adjust, she said. But things improved with time. “It becomes your new normal.’’

In an effort to raise awareness and money for the cause, she and the students will be selling wristbands, Grafton High School bells and No Stomach for Cancer T-shirts at a variety of events, including parent conferences to be held today and Monday, Nov. 14.

They will also be available at a Strike Away Cancer bowl-a-thon, to be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 at AMF Auburn Lanes, 101 Southbridge St., Auburn.

Lambert will also be speaking about the issue during half-time of the Grafton High School football game that starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.

Lambert serves on the board of directors of Nostomachforcancer.org. She is dedicated to getting the word out about stomach cancer, and about something else she learned through her experiences with the disease.

“People expect life to be fair, and it’s not,’’ she said. “We’re all going to face something hard in our lives. We get strength from doing these things.’’

And she hopes her students, who she speaks of with animated enthusiasm, will be rewarded for their work with this cause.

“I hope they will take pride in knowing, Wow, I might have saved someone’s life,’’ she said.