Small Intestine Cancer
Overview
The small intestine is a long tube that folds many times to fit inside the abdomen. It connects the stomach to the large intestine (bowel). The small intestine's main function is to break down food to remove vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Cancer of the small intestine is rare. In 2007, the American Cancer Society estimates that 5,600 men and women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer of the small intestine.Cancer of the small intestine is grouped based on what kind of cancerous cells are found. There are four main types: adenocarcinoma (the most common type), which often grows and block the bowel; lymphoma; leiomyosarcoma; and gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.
Even though cancer of the small intestine is rare, rest assured that physicians at The Cancer Center are skilled in diagnosing and treating it. The Cancer Center features the following for patients with cancer of the small intestine:
- board-certified gastroenterologists, surgical oncologists who treat only gastrointestinal cancers, and medical oncologists who are highly skilled in the latest technologies and techniques to diagnose, treat, and manage cancer of the small intestine
- state-of-the-art diagnostic technology and imaging studies
- clinical trials to investigate new medications and treatment methods
- a full range of support services
Symptoms
Symptoms of cancer of the small intestine include pain or cramps in the middle of the abdomen, weight loss without dieting, a lump in the abdomen, or blood in the stool.
Treatment Services
Surgery to remove the tumor is the most common treatment method for cancer of the small intestine. Lymph nodes in the area may also have to be removed if cancer has spread. If the tumor is large, the surgeon may have to cut out a section of the small intestine containing the cancer and reconnect the intestine. This type of operation is complex and should only be undertaken by a surgical oncologist who is skilled in treating gastrointestinal cancers, such as those in our Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology. Chemotherapy may be administered after surgery to kill any possible remaining cancer cells or to treat cancer that has spread.