Small Intestine Cancer

The small intestine is located between the stomach and the colon, and is approximately 15 feet long. As a part of the digestive system, this organ is concerned with the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Its cancer is rare, but can occur at times. There are basically five subtypes of small intestine cancer and these are known as, adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, carcinoid tumors and lymphoma. It has been observed that the incidence of adenocarcinomas are more frequent in industrialized nations, while lymphomas are more common in developing countries.

Risk Factors of Small Intestine Cancer

What exactly causes cancer of the small intestine is not known. However, some possible risk factors for this small intestine disease have been identified. Some such important risk factors for cancer, especially the adenocarcinomas are, Crohn's disease, celiac disease and familial adenomatous polyposis. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer too can raise the risk of this cancer.

The lymphomas are more commonly observed to be associated with a weakened immune system and celiac disease. Apart from these, eating habits are also believed to play a role in the development of cancer of the small bowel or intestine. A high fat diet and unhealthy eating habits may increase the risk of cancer and other problems.

Symptoms of Small Intestine Cancer

The symptoms can be vague, especially in the early stage. Many of these symptoms can be due to some other health conditions. Therefore, they cannot be termed as specific to the condition. Such symptoms can include:

• Abdominal cramps or pain that can be felt in the middle of the abdomen
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and bloating
• A lump in the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual fatigue
• Vomiting blood
• Presence of blood in stool or black, tarry stool
• Anemia

Small Intestine Cancer Treatment

The treatment and prognosis depend on several factors including, the type and stage of the cancer. The main treatment options for small bowel cancer are, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and biological therapy. Out of these, surgery is the most common treatment option and it can be of two types, resection and bypass surgery. In resection surgery, a section of the small intestine, which contains the cancerous cells or the tumor is removed surgically. After the surgery, the cut ends of the intestine are reconnected. Bypass surgery is usually opted if the cancerous tumor causes blockage in the small intestine.

Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays to destroy the cancerous cells. Radiation therapy can be external or internal. In external radiation therapy, radiation is sent from a machine outside the body, while in internal radiation therapy a radioactive substance is placed near the cancer cells with the help of needles or catheters. Radiation therapy is sometimes given after surgery to kill the remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy is another treatment option, where some specific drugs are used to target the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy drugs can be administered orally or they can be injected into a vein or muscles. Biological therapy on the other hand, uses substances that can stimulate the immune system to fight against or destroy the cancerous cells.

Survival rate can vary depending on the type of the cancer. Survival as well as recovery chances are better, if the cancer has not spread outside the small intestine. If the cancer is limited to the inner walls of the small intestine, then the chances of survival are good. In general, 5-year survival rate for adenocarcinoma is about 55%, provided the cancer has not spread beyond the small intestine. Early diagnosis can ensure prompt treatment of this cancer and increase the chances of survival.