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Small bowel cancer

Small bowel cancer is a type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the small intestine. The small intestine, also called the small bowel, is a long tube that carries digested food between the stomach and the large intestine.

The small intestine digests and absorbs nutrients from the foods you eat. It produces hormones that help with digestion. The small intestine also plays a role in the body’s germ-fighting immune system. It contains cells that fight bacteria and viruses that enter the body through the mouth.

Small bowel cancer treatment usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other treatments include chemotherapy and targeted therapy, which use medicines to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy also may be used to shrink the cancer before surgery.

Symptoms of small bowel cancer include:

The cause of small bowel cancer isn’t known. What’s known is that something happens to cells in the small bowel that changes them into cancer cells.

Small bowel cancer happens when cells develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA holds the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes tell the cells to multiply quickly. The cells continue living when healthy cells would die as part of their natural life cycle. This causes too many cells. The cells might form a mass called a tumor. The cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, the cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body.

Types of small bowel cancer

The type of small bowel cancer you have is based on the type of cell where your cancer began. Examples of small bowel cancer types include:

Your health care team considers your type of small bowel cancer when creating a treatment plan.

Factors that may increase the risk of small bowel cancer include:

Small bowel cancer can cause complications, including:

It’s not clear what may help to reduce the risk of small bowel cancer. If you’re interested in reducing your risk of cancer in general, it may help to:

Small bowel cancers are difficult to diagnose. For this reason, people suspected of having small bowel cancer often need multiple tests and procedures to locate the cancer or rule out a cancer. These may include:

Tests to see inside your small intestine

Several tests allow doctors to examine the inside of the small intestine. Often, a sample of tissue is collected during these tests. Which test you need depends on where in the small intestine your cancer is located. Options include:

Surgery

Sometimes small bowel cancers are in places that make them hard to see with other tests. If this happens, your health care team may suggest surgery to look at your small intestine and the surrounding area for signs of cancer.

Surgery can involve one large incision in your abdomen, called a laparotomy. It also can involve several small incisions, called a laparoscopy. During laparoscopy, a surgeon passes special tools through the incisions, as well as a video camera. The camera allows the surgeon to guide the tools and see inside your abdomen. The tools may be used to collect a sample of tissue for testing. Often, the cancer is removed during this procedure.

Treatment for small bowel cancer usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Other options might be chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Your health care team considers the location of your cancer and its type when creating a treatment plan. They also consider your overall health and your preferences.

Small bowel cancer treatments might include:

With time, you’ll find what helps you cope with the uncertainty and distress of a small bowel cancer diagnosis. Until then, you may find it helps to:

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your health care team suspects you might have cancer, you may be referred to a specialist.

Here’s some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there’s anything you need to do in advance, such as fasting before having a specific test. Make a list of:

Consider bringing a family member or friend to help you remember the information you’re given.

For small bowel cancer, some basic questions you might ask include:

Don’t hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer questions about your symptoms, such as:

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