Intestinal Metaplasia: What do you do to lower the risk of cancer?

Hi, how long before you went in for your follow up endo.?

Well, my first one was the first week of January. "Mild gastritis" was detected too apparently, but a few weeks before that I began changing my diet. My follow up appointment was in early February and that's when I received the official diagnosis. I was prescribed Sucralfate, twice daily, and told to stay away from very processed meats, sodas, alcohol, smoking and spicy foods. I went completely bland from a somewhat bland diet and drank a LOT of water. Nothing but fruits, veggies, rice, and maybe an egg every now and then.
I'm still very much taking much better of myself and have cut virtually everything out of my diet that's high in fat, acid, sodium.

Thank you so much for sharing the information. I got diagnosed 2 days ago and have been super anxious. Information on Google mostly says it’s not reversible and that’s scary. But after your message I know there is a chance. Appreciate your help

I started with autoimmune gastritis, 3 years later I was diagnosed with intestinal metaplasia. Scary situation but what is important is to treat well your stomach no alcohol no spicy foods, fried foods not at all, vegetables lots of them legumes fruits in general helps the lining go the stomach so adopting to this kind of foods will be able to make the lining of the stomach good, the possibilities of this transforming into cancer is much lower. My understanding is that in general terms not too many cases get into cancer. Your doctor should follow you, my last endoscopy was in November 24 when they discovered metaplasia, my doctor suggested another endoscopy in two years I said why two years? why not In one year so I am having another one next November. One study in Europe indicated that taking with food Misoprostol two times a day reversed metaplasia in most of the cases. However this still under study. I took it, for 6 months will see now if it worked there is no downside to it check It with your doctor

I was diagnosed with H. pylori as well, Barrett's esophagus, and gastric metaplasia, and most recently a gastric ulcer. My major issue at this point is the discomfort I feel from the sternal notch all the way down to the esophageal junction. I've never experienced anything like it before. PPI's don't help, calcium based acid reducers do nothing, and it's hit or miss which day the symptoms will be severe. Its impact at all realms of my life, and no one seems to know for sure what's going on, and I have seen a slew of doctors. I've been through every test in the book, and was recently diagnosed with visceral hypersensitivity. I was placed on a new PPI, and still no change. Has anybody experienced similar symptoms? Just recently I started taking CBD Gummies for discomfort and they seem to be helping a bit. I've never taken marijuana products, and never enjoyed the feeling of being stoned, but it is helping, but not addressing the underlying issue(s). Still, there is no conclusive diagnosis, and this has been going on for four years.

@mabargaol
Thank you for the information! I wish you all the best. I'm going to take your advice. Again, thanks so much!

Has anyone been diagnosed with or heard of, visceral hypersensitivity? It's a condition where the nerves are close to the surface of an organ, esophagus, etc. It can cause pain and discomfort. It seems to be a diagnosis of exclusion.

@dawnsdc, I read through the discussion you recently posted and see you are working through quite a bit. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-discomfort/

Here is an article about managing chronic abdominal bloating and distention that includes visceral hypersensitivity as a functional cause. “ Gut-brain interaction disorders associated with bloating and distention include IBS, chronic idiopathic constipation, pelvic floor dysfunction, functional dyspepsia and functional bloating…some diagnoses have a visceral sensory disorder that causes them to perceive that their bodies are producing an excessive amount of gas.‘
- Functional causes of bloating and distension: https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/digestive-diseases/news/understanding-and-managing-chronic-abdominal-bloating-and-distension/mac-20511032

I also searched from the Connect home page and found 4 related discussions that may be worth checking out if you have not done so already:
- Visceral Hypersensitivity Discussions: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/discussions/

What is your experience with visceral hypersensitivity?

I was just diagnosed as well. My gastroenterologist told me he would see me in a year and we do another endoscopy and that he was doubtful it would turn into cancer. But my question is why do they call it pre-cancer and then tell you not to worry about it? If you had pre-cancer on the outside of your body, I'm sure they would look into it and remove it. I don't understand. It's very confusing and very frustrating

Hi, @teresacorrea - that is for sure is hard. Anytime doctors use the "C" word, it makes patients shudder, even if it's called "precancer," "low-risk cancer," "slow-growing cancer," or the like.

I personally was told when I learned the laboratory had found a neuroendocrine tumor (the doctor had removed like it was a polyp, I believe thinking it was a polyp) in 2023 that it was a "low-risk and slow-growing" type of neuroendocrine tumor. Despite the adjectives downplaying the risk, my fear was pretty high because my father-in-law was at that time dying from a neuroendocrine tumor (originating somewhere else than the rectum, where mine was found), and I could not hear even "encouraging" words attached to the "C" word.

That was scary news. The upshot is that after three to four months of testing, the doctors finally determined I had 0% of cancer left in my body, thankfully. But along the way, during all this testing, I had moments of tears streaming down my face during scans out of sheer terror and random crying just sitting on my couch at home, again, just because I was scared sometimes.

It would be completely legitimate to go back to the gastroenterologist who told you he'd see you in a year and that he was doubtful the precancer would turn into cancer to see if he'd meet with you again and explain it in further detail. If he's willing - even for a video chat - it might also be a good idea to have a friend or a spouse with you who can also hear what he says and be available to go over it again with you at any moments of doubt. It is a big deal that you understand why it is or is not worrisome, as you have to live with this information floating around your head for the next year.

If by any chance this gastroenterologist is not available, you might ask your primary care doctor to meet with you or call you to talk it through.

What do you think about having a further discussion to completely understand the "precancer" and then the "Don't worry about it"?