Definition
Small bowel cancer is an uncommon type of cancer that occurs in the small intestine. The small intestine, also called the small bowel, is a large tube that connects the stomach and large intestine (colon). Small bowel cancer occurs when cells in the lining of the small bowel grow uncontrollably, forming a mass called a tumor.
There are five main types of small bowel cancer:
- Adenocarcinoma: A cancerous tumor formed from glandular structures in the epithelial tissue
- Sarcoma: A cancerous tumor that develops in certain tissues, such as bone or muscle.
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor: An uncommon tumor that develops in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Carcinoid tumor: A slow-growing cancer that develops in the lining of the digestive tract or in the lungs
- Lymphoma: A cancer of the lymphatic system
Treatment options for small bowel cancer typically depend on the type of cancer an individual is suffering from and its stage.
Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms of small bowel cancer include the following:
- Blood in the stool
- Diarrhea
- Black stools
- A lump in the abdomen
- Stomach cramps
- Stomach pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Weight loss
- Tiredness
- Anemia: Low red blood cell count
Causes
While the cause of most small bowel cancers is not understood, some individuals with non-cancerous bowel conditions may have a higher risk of developing small bowel cancer. These conditions include Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease and Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome.
Individuals who have had a cancer of the colon or rectum, or who have hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer or familial adenomatous polyposis, also have an increased risk of developing small bowel cancer.
Risk factors
A few conditions that can increase the risk of developing small bowel cancer include the following:
- Eating high fat foods
- Crohn’s disease: An inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract
- Celiac disease: A digestive disease that affects the absorption of nutrients from food in the small bowel
- Familial adenomatous polyposis: A condition that involves the growth of colon polyps (non cancerous growths) that can develop into cancer if left untreated
- Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome: A condition that involves the growth of hamartomatous polyps (noncancerous growths) in the gastrointestinal tract.
Other factors may include:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- High levels of sugar intake
- High consumption of salted or smoked meats and fish
Treatment
Treatment options for small bowel cancer typically depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the individual’s preferences and overall health. Treatment options can include:
- Surgery: A surgical procedure that involves removal of all or a small portion of the small intestine, depending on how much of the area the cancer has affected. In cases where the small bowl cancer cannot be removed, surgeons might perform a bypass to relieve a blockage in the small intestine.
- Chemotherapy: The use of chemical substances (anti-cancerous drugs) to destroy cancer cells, usually by stopping their ability to grow and divide.
- Radiation therapy: The use of high powered X-ray beams to kill cancer cells.
- Biological therapy: The use of materials such as cancer vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and interferon to help fight the cancer and restore immune system function.
- Clinical trials: The creation and use of new medical approaches to treat small bowel cancer such as new drugs, different combinations of existing treatments, new approaches to radiation therapy or surgery
