Although a follow-up assessment of ghrelin, appetite and malnutrition at 3 or 6 months post-operatively might have provided more insight, this was not feasible as not all patients were seen by oncologists at the hospital where the operation took place, and as a result, follow-up assessments after 1 month post-operatively were not routinely scheduled for every patient in our clinic. The gene discussed is GHRL; the disease is malnutrition.