How Long Can You Live with a Stomach Ulcer?

Stomach ulcers can be classified as either benign or malignant. Patients with benign stomach ulcers can fully recover with proper treatment and typically experience no impact on their life expectancy. On the other hand, malignant ulcers are often a sign of gastric cancer and tend to have a poorer prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than 30%.

Benign ulcers usually present with recurring upper abdominal pain that occurs about an hour after eating. This discomfort may also follow a seasonal pattern. These ulcers can be detected through endoscopic examination, where they appear small and well-defined, with healthy surrounding tissue and normal gastric motility. A biopsy will also show no presence of cancerous cells.

Once diagnosed, it's crucial to identify the underlying cause of the benign ulcer:

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major contributor to stomach ulcers. Eradicating this bacteria significantly reduces the risk of recurrence.

Certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or aspirin, can also lead to ulcer formation. Discontinuing these medications, if possible, often allows the ulcer to heal.

In some cases, patients may require long-term medication for conditions like heart disease. In such situations, combining proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), commonly known as "prazole" drugs, with standard treatments can help prevent ulcer recurrence and reduce the risk of complications.

If an ulcer appears large and dirty during endoscopy, and if biopsy results reveal cancerous cells, it is typically classified as a malignant ulcer. Further evaluation using abdominal CT scans helps determine whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes and allows for accurate staging.

Malignant ulcers often require surgical intervention. After surgery, the removed tissue provides important details regarding the cancer's aggressiveness and whether distant lymph node involvement exists.

For those diagnosed with advanced stages of gastric cancer, the five-year survival rate is approximately 30%. Early detection and appropriate treatment play a vital role in improving outcomes.