Many people have heard of Helicobacter Pylori (HP) and its inextricable link to stomach cancer, and when a physical exam reveals “signs” of H. pylori infection, it feels like a “big deal. When a physical examination reveals “signs” of H. pylori infection, it feels like a “big deal” and you can’t stop worrying. So, what exactly is H. pylori? How does the human body become infected with H. pylori? Does H. pylori infection necessarily lead to stomach cancer? The following will detail the link between H. pylori and stomach cancer.
What is H. pylori?
H. pylori grows in the stomach and duodenum and has a spiral structure with flagella, a special structure that facilitates its movement.
We all know that the environment inside the stomach is strongly acidic, most bacteria cannot survive, and that the mucus secreted by the gastric mucosa forms a protective mucus layer that protects the gastric mucosa from damage.
However, because H. pylori has a special motile structure, it can cross the mucus layer to reach the gastric mucosa. In addition, H. pylori can also secrete a series of enzymes to reduce acid secretion and improve its own living environment. In addition, the H. pylori can secrete a series of enzymes to reduce acid secretion and improve its environment.
How do you get H. pylori?
Clinical epidemiological findings show that H. pylori spreads worldwide with human hosts and the infection rate is quite high. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in our population is more than 50%. The prevalence of H. pylori infection is now known to be more closely related to socioeconomic level, population density, public health conditions, and water supply.
Although H. pylori infection is common, the route of infection is still controversial among researchers. The current study suggests that H. pylori can be transmitted by the “fecal-oral” route and the “oral-oral” route, that is, through food, water, and oral feeding, kissing, sneezing, and so on.
What are the symptoms of infection?
- H. pylori can live in dental plaque, and its growth produces foul-smelling carbons that cause bad breath.
- People infected with H. pylori may also experience symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders such as burping after meals, nausea, bloating, and abdominal discomfort.
- People with long-term H. pylori infection may develop chronic gastritis and gastric ulcers due to its damage to the gastric mucosa, resulting in corresponding manifestations such as hiccups, nausea, acid reflux, and epigastric pain.
- H. pylori may also lead to dysbiosis in the digestive tract, causing a range of other symptoms of digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
How is H. pylori related to stomach cancer?
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines state that H. pylori infection, along with smoking, a high-salt diet, and other dietary factors, are risk factors for the development of gastric cancer.
Current studies have shown that H. pylori can cause a variety of gastric diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and duodenal ulcers. However, even with these gastric diseases, patients do not necessarily get gastric cancer. One study showed that 75% of all gastric cancer patients have H. pylori infection. Nevertheless, these findings only indicate that H. pylori infection may be a high risk factor for the development of gastric cancer, but it does not necessarily mean that H. pylori causes gastric cancer to develop.
The development of gastric cancer is a long process. It is now believed that the process of gastric cancer is: chronic superficial gastritis → atrophic gastritis → intestinal epithelial hyperplasia → heterogeneous hyperplasia (atypical hyperplasia, intraepithelial neoplasia) → gastric cancer. In the whole process, H. pylori infection is only one of the risk factors, and the toxic substances it secretes can destroy the gastric mucosa, making it easier for various carcinogenic factors to directly change and destroy gastric mucosal cells, which leads to gastric cancer. In other words, H. pylori is not the “killer” of gastric cancer, but it is the “accomplice” of gastric cancer because it destroys the protective barrier of gastric mucosa and indirectly promotes the occurrence of gastric cancer.
In summary, there is a correlation between H. pylori and gastric cancer, but there is no absolute causal relationship. The first time I saw this, I was able to get to the bottom of it. The development of cancer is an extremely complex process that can be influenced by many factors, and H. pylori can be eradicated through regular treatment. Therefore, it is important not to panic when H. pylori infection is found, but to seek medical advice and follow the standard treatment to help reduce the risk of stomach cancer. (Contributed by Jingxu Sun, Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University)