A 38-year-old female patient with gastric ul.c.er could not have imagined that just because of a familiar daily hobby

This woman (38 years old) was hospitalized with continuous weight loss and bloody stools. After the doctor performed an endoscopy, Ms. H. was shocked to receive the results of acute gastric ulcer, caused by H.P. infection.

H.P. bacteria exist in a spiral form, like a parasite in the human stomach lining, causing gastric ulcers, chronic gastritis, which can lead to stomach cancer if left untreated.

H.P. bacteria is one of the agents that cause gastric ulcers.

Ms. H. said that she likes to eat salty, spicy foods because it tastes good, but did not expect that this habit would lead to serious health consequences. Ms. H. also hesitated to go to the doctor because she was afraid of having to do an endoscopy, which would cause pain, making the disease worse.

The doctor who examined Ms. H. said that the H.P bacteria carrying the CagA gene can cause gastroduodenal ulcers, especially when combined with salt in salty foods. This causes the DNA of gastric mucosal cells to break down, increasing the risk of cancer.

H.P bacteria – the silent enemy leading to stomach cancer

According to Dr. Phan Van Hanh – MD, Endoscopy Center, Bao Son General Hospital, “Many patients like Ms. T.D.H. come to the hospital for examination when the “golden” time for early detection of the disease has passed. At this time, the symptoms have appeared, making the patient tired and unable to bear it anymore before going to the doctor.”

According to Dr. Phan Van Hanh, patients should have a general health check-up every year to screen for early cancer, especially stomach cancer. According to statistics from Hanoi Oncology Hospital, stomach cancer ranks second after lung cancer in men and third after breast and cervical cancer in women. The rate of people infected with H.P progressing to stomach cancer is about 1%, so patients should not be subjective with this type of bacteria.

Common symptoms of H.P bacteria include abdominal pain, burning in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, frequent belching, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, black stools, bloody vomit, black or thick like coffee grounds.