According to Healthline - Stomach ulcers and stomach cancer are two distinct conditions that affect the stomach, but they differ in terms of their causes, symptoms, and treatment options. Here's a breakdown of the differences between the two:
Causes:
Stomach ulcers: These are commonly caused by a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or by the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. Other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and stress can also contribute to the development of ulcers.
Stomach cancer: The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, but certain risk factors have been identified. These include chronic infection with H. pylori, a diet high in smoked, salted, or pickled foods, obesity, smoking, family history of stomach cancer, and certain genetic conditions such as hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.
Symptoms:
Stomach ulcers: The most common symptom of an ulcer is a burning pain in the abdomen, typically felt between the breastbone and the belly button. This pain often occurs a few hours after eating and may come and go. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, bloating, weight loss, and appetite changes.
Stomach cancer: In the early stages, stomach cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms can include indigestion, heartburn, abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting (possibly with blood), unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, and blood in the stool.
Diagnosis:
Stomach ulcers: Diagnosis of ulcers may involve a combination of medical history assessment, physical examination, and diagnostic tests such as blood tests, stool tests to detect H. pylori, endoscopy (a procedure that uses a flexible tube with a camera to examine the digestive tract), and imaging studies like X-rays or CT scans.
Stomach cancer: The diagnosis of stomach cancer often involves similar procedures as those for ulcers, including medical history evaluation, physical examination, blood tests, endoscopy, and imaging tests. Additionally, a biopsy (taking a sample of tissue for analysis) is usually performed during endoscopy to confirm the presence of cancer.
Treatment:
Stomach ulcers: Treatment of ulcers typically involves medications to reduce stomach acid production and eliminate H. pylori infection if present. This may include proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers, antibiotics, and antacids. Lifestyle changes, such as avoiding irritants like NSAIDs, reducing stress, and making dietary adjustments, can also aid in healing.
Stomach cancer: Treatment options for stomach cancer depend on the stage and extent of the disease. They may include surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Treatment plans are tailored to each individual based on factors such as the tumor size, location, and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.
It's important to note that stomach ulcers are generally not cancerous, but untreated ulcers can lead to complications or rarely progress to cancer over time.
Content created and supplied by: Blizztnews (via Opera News )
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