The beloved Mexican actress and comedian, Maria Elena Velasco, known as “La India Maria” died May 1st in Mexico City, she was 74 years old.
Velasco suffered from stomach cancer for over 13 years. The actress was taken to the emergency room where she had a gastrectomy, a medical procedure where all or part of the stomach is surgically removed.
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Stomach cancer begins when cancer cells form in the inner lining of the stomach. The cells can grow and become cancerous tumors. Also called gastric cancer, the disease can grow slowly through many years, like in Velasco’s case.
Doctors don’t know what makes cancer cells grow in the stomach, but people often catch infections with common bacteria, which cause ulcers. Gastritis, anemia, and polyps can also increase your chances of getting cancer.