Art Chapa was suffering with pneumonia in October 2010 and was not getting better. By early November he was diagnosed with stomach cancer, and sadly, died before the month was over. The expected cause of Art's stomach cancer was a little known bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. The Chapa family has established the Art Chapa Foundation for Gastric Cancer Prevention in the hopes that we can help others to understand the symptoms, risks and treatment for this bacteria.
If you would like to make a gift in support of the Art Chapa Foundation for Gastric Cancer Prevention please contact Donna Knight at (520) 626-6459 or you can make a donation through the UA Foundation.
Background of H. Pylori
H. pylori is a very common bacteria that causes inflammation in the stomach and small intestine and can eventually lead to peptic ulcers. For the majority of people, H. pylori infection has no signs or symptoms, but in others it can lead to complications such as peptic ulcer disease and stomach cancer. About 50 percent of the world’s population is infected with H. pylori. Most people are infected as children and carry the bacteria with them their whole lives.
Scientists Barry Marshall and Robin Warren first identified the H. pylori bacteria in 1982. They noted the connection between H. pylori infection, stomach inflammation, and resulting peptic ulcer disease. Marshall and Warren received the 2005 Nobel Prize in Medicine for this crucial discovery. We now know that bacteria, not stress and spicy food, cause ulcers.
Learn more about H. Pylori:
- Signs and symptoms
- Transmission and spread of infection
- Complications and prognosis
- Testing and treatment
- Prevalence and incidence
- Risk factors
This video from the Mayo Clinic also helps to explain H. pylori symptoms and treatment.
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