Small Intestine Cancer
What is Small Bowel Cancer?
Small bowel cancer is one of the cancer types with the lowest incidence. The incidence of this type of cancer, which spreads very insidiously, is 1%. There are 4 different types of small bowel cancer in individuals over 50 years of age.
Types of small bowel cancer are as follows;
- Adenocarcinoma
- lymphoma
- Sarcoma
- Neuroendocrine tumors
The symptoms of cancer for each type are approximately the same. And when we look at the symptoms of small bowel cancer, it is very difficult to detect it in the early stages, as it mimics many different diseases.
What are the Symptoms of Small Bowel Cancer?
Small bowel cancer shows symptoms that we often encounter in daily life. Determining that these symptoms, which have similar characteristics with different diseases, are signs of cancer, depends on the examinations to be performed by specialist physicians.
The symptoms of each different type of small bowel cancer are listed as follows;
- A constant stomachache
- Persistent fatigue and weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes – Jaundice
- Watery diarrhea
- Red or black blood in stool
- It is skin flushing.
It is often impossible to think that these symptoms are the beginning of cancer. At the same time, the diagnosis and diagnosis stage of small bowel cancer is quite difficult. Based on the symptoms, imaging tests and some endoscopic applications are performed. After such comprehensive tests and examinations, diagnosis and diagnosis are made.
What Are the Causes of Small Bowel Cancer?
Although some types of cancer have very obvious causes, there is no clear cause for small bowel cancer yet. Scientifically, it is not yet known what causes small bowel cancer. However, there are some factors that increase and affect the possibility of the development of this disease. These factors, also called risk factors, are as follows;
- It is more common in men than women.
- It is more likely to occur over the age of 50.
- Gene mutations inherited from families are important. It can be genetic.
- Celiac disease can be a trigger.
- A history of colon cancer increases the risk.
- Chrohn's disease increases the risk.
- Cystic fibrosis, Peutz Jeghers Syndrome and Familial Some hereditary diseases such as adenomatous carry a risk.
Each of the above-mentioned factors is among the substances that trigger and affect the formation of small bowel cancer. However, having one or more of these risk factors does not mean that this disease will develop.
Small Bowel Cancer Treatment
Small bowel cancer treatment can give more successful results when detected in the early stages. As in all types of cancer, the treatment process will begin as a result of a diagnosis made in the early stages in small bowel cancer. And the response of the patients to the treatment in this process is more satisfactory. However, small bowel cancer is one of the most difficult types of cancer to detect. It is very difficult to detect this disease, both because its incidence is very low and because it progresses very insidiously.
Small bowel cancer treatment varies according to the type and stage of the disease. The different methods applied in the treatment process, which are under the initiative of expert teams, are as follows;
Drug Therapy
Targeted drug therapy focuses on the weaknesses of cancer cells, causing them to die. Drug therapy can be applied in the early stage diagnosis period.
Surgical treatment
Thanks to surgical treatments, cancerous parts of the small intestine are removed and treated. If the patient's condition is suitable for surgical operation, a part or whole of the intestine is removed and the cancerous part is cleaned.
Chemotherapy
If the small bowel cancer is in an advanced stage, chemotherapy can be applied to the patients. Thanks to this application, the growth of rapidly growing cancer cells can be stopped. At the same time, recurrence of cancer after surgical operations is prevented.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy treatment is the application of supportive drugs for the immune system to fight cancer.