Wang Tinghan, a gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary physician at Xinlou Hospital, said that patients suffering from Helicobacter pylori may develop into gastric cancer. If they have related symptoms, they should seek medical screening as soon as possible.
An 80-year-old grandma underwent a gastroscopy in early 2025 and was found to have a gastric ulcer. The biopsy showed that he was infected with Helicobacter pylori, but she did not return for a follow-up visit, remove sterilization, or track the ulcer. A year and a half later, the grandma was hospitalized due to a large amount of melena. The gastroscopy revealed that the ulcer was enlarging and bleeding. The biopsy confirmed that it was "intermediate gastric cancer." Wang Tinghan, a gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary physician, said that this shows the importance of screening and sterilization of Helicobacter pylori.
Statistics from the National Health Service of the Ministry of Health and Welfare show that more than 4,000 people in Taiwan are diagnosed with gastric cancer every year, and more than 2,000 people die from gastric cancer; about 30% of adults over the age of 20 are infected with Helicobacter pylori. According to epidemiological estimates by Wang Tinghan, a gastroenterology and hepatobiliary surgeon at Xinlou Hospital, about 80% to 90% of gastric cancers are attributed to Helicobacter pylori infection. The risk of gastric cancer for people with Helicobacter pylori is about 6 to 10 times that of those without Helicobacter pylori infection. However, infection with Helicobacter pylori does not necessarily mean that you will develop cancer. About 1 to 4% of patients with Helicobacter pylori will develop gastric cancer.
Many people infected with Helicobacter pylori are asymptomatic, but long-term infection may cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa; some people develop precancerous lesions such as atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Because early-stage gastric cancer may have no obvious symptoms, you cannot wait until you have stomach pain to treat it. Helicobacter pylori is mainly transmitted through the mouth. Food shared by family members is an important source of infection. If a family member is infected with the bacterium, it is recommended that all family members living together be tested together, so that early detection and treatment can be achieved.
Wang Tinghan said that there are 4 types of Helicobacter pylori tests including fecal antigen, blood antibody, carbon 13 urea breath test (inhalation) and gastroscopy section. Fecal antigen and insufflation are the two simplest types. Among them, the Chinese government will provide people aged 45 to 74 with a lifetime public-funded fecal antigen test from January 2026. Those who meet the public-funded qualifications can make good use of it at the hospital.
Wang Tinghan said that if the screening test is positive, you should return to the doctor to complete the sterilization course according to the doctor's instructions. At least 4 weeks after the sterilization is completed, you need to check whether the sterilization was successful. You cannot judge based on the improvement of symptoms alone. He reminded the public that if they experience melena, vomiting blood, unexplained anemia, sudden weight loss or difficulty swallowing, persistent upper abdominal pain, abdominal distension, nausea and vomiting, or fatigue, they should seek medical examination as soon as possible. Paying attention to dietary hygiene, using public chopsticks and female spoons, eating less high-salt and pickled foods, and quitting smoking and alcohol can all help maintain stomach health.
An 80-year-old grandmother was diagnosed with Helicobacter pylori during a gastroscopy, but she ignored it for a year and a half and later developed mid-stage gastric cancer.
