Common Causes & Risk Factors Of Peptic Ulcer Disease

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy can cause peptic ulcers to form depending on where in the body the radiation is targeted. For instance, patients with gastric lymphoma, specifically in stages one and two, often receive radiation after a round of chemotherapy, as an effective form of treatment for destroying the cancerous cells. As with any cancer treatment, there are a few risks, such as gastric bleeding and perforation, or ulcers that eat through the wall of the stomach lining and small intestine.

Radiation therapy that is done to the upper abdomen can also irritate the esophagus and stomach, while radiation to the lower abdomen is more likely to irritate the small and large intestines and further cause digestive issues. One of the main side effects a patient can experience while receiving radiation in the abdomen area is peptic ulcers, as well as stomach ulcers.