GERD

You raise one of the more interesting developments/controversies in cancer medicine.

The most rapidly-increasing forms of cancer in the USA are esophageal cancer, non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma, and melanoma. I believe that esophageal cancer has recently risen to #1 in rate
of increase.

These are often associated with GERD. GERD is exacerbated by obesity, which is just one other reason
not to become obese. But here is the real interesting controversy:

Helicobacter pylori infection is, indeed, the main cause of gastric ulcer disease. H Pylori is also
a contributor to gastric cancer and to gastric lymphoma. But now there is some evidence that H
Pylori may, in fact, be protective against esophageal cancer. So there is this emerging, vigorous
controversy whether or not eradicating H Pylori from the stomach (takes about a two week course of
three antibiotics) is a good thing or a bad thing. Obviously, with frank ulcer disease or extremely
nasty gastritis, one is well-advised to receive the antibiotic treatment to eradicate H Pylori. But,
with minimal to absent symptoms in asymptomatic "carriers" (a fairly large segment of the
population), is or is not treatment with H Pylori a good thing or a bad thing. In other words, is H
Pylori just another usually "friendly" bacterium which has a symbiotic relationship with the host
(us), just as in the case of e coli in our large bowel, or is it a dangerous pathogen which should
be searched for, and then destroyed, if found.

As of the moment, medical science does not have the answer.

I will say that if I had GERD and minimal to absent gastric symptoms (in other words, if I had
reflux but no ulcer symptoms and if I was H Pylori positive, I probably wouldn't get myself treated,
on the basis of present day knowledge.

- Larry Weisenthal

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I will say that if I had GERD and minimal to absent gastric symptoms (in

other

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words, if I had reflux but no ulcer symptoms and if I was H Pylori

positive, I

Quoted message said:

probably wouldn't get myself treated, on the basis of present day

knowledge.

Quoted message said:

- Larry Weisenthal

You'd get treated for GERD if you had severe heartburn and checked yourself into the Emergency Room
with chest pains. No it wasn't a heart problem but it was a wake up call. A purple pill (Nexium) and
return to the water (3500yds x 3 times/wk) have fixed up this old swimmer. I feel pretty dang good
for someone pushing 1/2 century. Almost forgot how that work out can give a relaxed but pumped up
feeling all at the same time!

Keep on Strokin' !