i can responsibly prescribe a test or treatment if there is direct evidence that it helps. if there is no direct evidence, then there should be indirect evidence. most TCM or alternative medicine is not evidence-based. some DO have evidence, but most don’t. those treatment methods with evidence can be recommended but those without evidence needs evaluation first.

for example, acupunture has been shown to relieve pain… so i might say, go ahead and try it.

but then see a qualified practitioner. the rule of medicine is “first do no harm”. is there a body of acupunturists who agree on a consistent and safe method of acupuncture? will this organisation be responsible to regulate themselves?

conventional medicine is a systematic study which has in place a specific standard of practice and peers to regulate the practice of medicine. alternative medicine practioners need to have a system like that to be consistent and safe… self-regulation and commitment to evidence.

whatever the method of diagnosis and treatment, the most important factor is a CONSCIENTIOUS, COMPASSIONATE AND COMPETENT practitioner

Lighter note to those survivor, they’ll never have to face WEIGHT issues! Smaller stomach, lesser food! Perhaps, more supplements for nutrition?

for example, the patient will have to eat small frequent meals because the “storeroom” is now smaller.

also, some patients feel giddy after a meal because the food gets into the intestines too quickly and get absorbed too quickly. some patients can experience diarrhoea for a while.

the absorbtion of iron is poorer, so patients may need extra iron in the diet.

to answer the second question, yes and no.

yes cos it can burst and stomach contents and acid can leak into the abdominal space, which is life threatening. also it can cause so much swelling and scarring at the stomach that food has dificulty passing.

no because nowadays it’s not common as there is good medicine to prevent ulcers from becoming that bad.

besides that, ulcers are life threatening to the spouse when the ulcer is causing pain

I’m curious. If the doc cut out half of cancerous stomach, will it affect the patient’s digestive system? I wonder if stomach and duodenal ulcer a life threatening disease. Errmm