A man with a rare gene that caused his mother's fatal cancer decided to get his whole stomach surgically removed so he can raise his kids - and one day meet his grandkids. Anders Johnson, 41, a pharmacist, had his stomach removed after he tested for the rare gene, CDH1, which came out positive.
CDH1 significantly increases the chances of developing Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer (HDGC). The rare gene caused his both his mother's and grandfather's deaths at the age of 48 and 50, respectively.
Shocked by the thought of not being able to see his children grow up, Anders went through with the gastrectomy in 2014. Anders, 41, aid: "My maternal grandfather died of HDGC when he was 50, and my mother was diagnosed with HDGC, which spread to esophageal cancer when she was 48.
