HELICOBACTER PYLORI CAUSES CANCER

I don't mean to alarm you in this article. It is merely my intention to draw your attention to the importance of getting rid of H. pylori.

We already know for sure that H. pylori is the main cause of stomach and duodenal (intestinal) ulcers as well as gastritis (inflammation of the stomach, which is a bit like internal bruising or burning).

Gastric cancer is the second most frequent fatal cancer in the world and it can be caused by H. pylori.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified H. pylori as a definite carcinogen (cancer -causing). WHO considers H. pylori to e the same threat for gastic cancer as smoking is for lung cancer.

Although it is not known exactly how H. pylori causes cancer, we do know that there seems to be a progession that is largely the result of H. pylori infection.

It seems that cancer can develop once a person has gastritis (which later becomes something called 'atrophic gastritis', where the cells of the stomach are lost or severely damaged).

According to Drs Graham & Graham (2002), the reasons why some people develop cancer and some don't is likely to be:

• The strain of H. pylori involved (remember that there are different strains and some are resistant to antibiotics).
• Diet & lifestyle (alcohol, drugs, sugar, gluten intolerance, pasteurized milk, etc.)
• Host factors (Is the immune system healthy? Are there other infections? Are there toxic metals in the body? All these are common).

Bearing in mind these doctors state that diet and other host factors are important, it concerns me that the medical approach to these issues relies solely on drug therapy.

Diet, lifestyle and other factors clearly play a huge role in the development of these serious illnesses and must be addressed in a complete health-building program, in addition to trying to kill the H. pylori.

We must treat the person who has the disease, not the disease that has the person.

If you have any questions regarding this article, please do not hesitate to contact me dave@davehompes.com