Gastric ulcers may not develop into gastric cancer, but patients with gastric ulcers have an increased chance of developing gastric cancer. Although gastric ulcers have the potential to become cancerous, the incidence is not high, and the likelihood of a gastric ulcer becoming malignant and progressing to gastric cancer is usually less than 1%.
Usually, most gastric ulcers can be cured with standard treatment. However, with the persistence of multiple predisposing factors, gastric ulcers may recur, which, combined with repeated destruction of the gastric mucosa and the presence of carcinogenic factors of gastric cancer, may eventually lead to the development of gastric cancer. Common causes of gastric ulcers include H. pylori infection, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [e.g., aspirin (Aspirin), acetaminophen (Paracetamol), etc.], familial inheritance, and gastric emptying disorders. Common triggers include stress reactions (the state in which an individual is placed by a sudden stimulus), smoking, chronic mental stress, and irregular diet.
If a gastric ulcer is confirmed by gastroscopy, patients should be regularly reviewed and closely monitored for changes in their condition under standardized treatment. When symptoms such as change in the nature of pain, fixed abdominal mass, vomiting blood or black stool, or rapid weight loss within a short period of time occur, promptly go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination to prevent the occurrence of gastric cancer. (Sun Jingxu, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, participated in the answer)