Although most people with gastric cancer are infected with H. pylori, only a small minority of infected persons will ever develop a gastric malignancy. We do not yet know whether curing H. pylori infection reduces the risk of gastric cancer, although preliminary data suggests this may be the case. My symptoms are so severe that I'm afraid I might have a serious problem. There is no correlation between the severity of dyspepsia symptoms and the likelihood of a more serious underlying problem. It is important not to over-test people at low risk for serious disease, such as young people.
All medical testing carries some risk to the patient.
The type and length of therapy depends on the underlying cause of the dyspepsia. Ulcer disease caused by H. pylori infection can be cured with a short course of antibiotics. People who are dependent on anti-inflammatories, such as patients with severe arthritis, may require maintenance therapy to prevent recurrent dyspepsia. People who secrete too much gastric fluid generally require ongoing therapy. Non-ulcer or functional dyspepsia, dyspepsia without an identifiable cause, is commonly managed with medication during periods when symptoms are severe.