Many people often take common inflammatory diseases lightly, not realizing that they can be the hidden roots leading to cancer. Doctors warn that if the following four types of inflammation are left untreated or treatment is delayed, the risk of dangerous complications will increase, potentially even resulting in cancer.

First: Chronic hepatitis B

Chronic hepatitis B occurs when a person is infected with the hepatitis B virus for more than six months, causing liver damage at varying degrees such as inflammation, necrosis, or cirrhosis.

What is particularly concerning is that many patients are often complacent, believing they are merely “virus carriers” and therefore neglect regular monitoring. This indifference allows the disease to progress silently, leading to cirrhosis and even liver cancer. Therefore, people with hepatitis B need to maintain the habit of regular health check-ups to detect abnormalities early.

Second: Chronic atrophic gastritis

During gastroscopy, doctors commonly identify two prevalent forms of gastritis: chronic superficial gastritis and chronic atrophic gastritis. Among them, chronic atrophic gastritis is considered the most dangerous. This condition is characterized by the gradual atrophy of the gastric mucosa and glands, severely impairing digestive function. If it persists for a long time, it may progress to gastric cancer.

Third: Chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatitis has two forms: acute and chronic. While acute pancreatitis often responds well to treatment, chronic pancreatitis progresses silently, lasts long, and is difficult to cure completely.

Long-term chronic inflammation stimulates pancreatic cells to undergo malignant transformation, increasing the risk of pancreatic cancer—one of the most aggressive cancers, known for early metastasis and a very low survival rate after diagnosis.

Fourth: Chronic ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic intestinal disease characterized by prolonged inflammation of the colonic mucosa. Patients often experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, and weight loss, which significantly reduce quality of life.

Treatment usually relies on medications, including hormones, to control inflammation. However, long-term use of hormonal drugs carries many unwanted side effects.

What is especially alarming is that if ulcerative colitis is not well controlled, the risk of progression to colorectal cancer is very high. Statistics show that patients with ulcerative colitis have a significantly increased likelihood of developing colorectal cancer.