How many years does it take for atrophic gastritis to progress to cancer?
Disease description:
During my recent endoscopy, I was diagnosed with atrophic gastritis. I've heard that this condition can lead to stomach cancer. How many years does it typically take for atrophic gastritis to progress to cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
The time required for atrophic gastritis to progress to cancer is not clear and varies among individuals. Generally, atrophic gastritis may undergo stages such as intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia before potentially becoming cancerous. With active treatment, cancerous transformation may not occur, or the time required for such transformation may be prolonged, potentially lasting 10–30 years. If not actively treated, the risk of cancer development in atrophic gastritis increases, although the exact time frame still varies due to individual differences, potentially occurring within 5–10 years or even longer. Therefore, for patients with atrophic gastritis, early detection, active treatment, and regular follow-up are crucial to reduce the risk of cancer development.
