1. Know the Small Intestine's Role
The small intestine receives food and nutrients directly from the food in your stomach. The food travels from the stomach to the first segment of the small intestine, the duodenum. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder are released and sent to the small intestine. These enzymes and acids help dilute and digest the food so your small intestine can absorb the nutrients. Almost all the absorption of nutrients is carried out by the small intestine.
2. Understand the Risk Factors
There are five main types of cancer of the small intestine, including adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, sarcomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and carcinoid tumors. Although cancer of the small intestine is considered rare (less than 6,000 cases a year in the US), the most common form of cancer of the small intestine is adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas usually start close to the stomach, in the lining of the small intestine. Risk factors include diets high in fat, a history of celiac disease, a history of Crohn's disease and FAP (an inherited condition of numerous polyps in the intestine).
3. Symptoms of Small Intestine Cancer
Symptoms of cancer of the small intestine include pain or cramps in the mid-abdomen, vomiting, blood in the stool, a lump in the abdomen or a distended abdomen and weight loss for no apparent reason. Blood in the stool may be hard to detect because it won't be red; instead it will be dark and difficult to find. This is called "occult" blood, which is hidden blood. If you have any of these symptoms that don't go away, see a doctor immediately.
4. Diagnosing Small Intestine Cancer
The doctor will probably order a test for occult blood, which can be done at home. Stool is saved and swabbed onto a slide, then sent to a lab for testing. Other tests the doctor will perform depend on your history, physical and symptoms. The tests may include blood work for liver function tests, abdominal x-rays, endoscopic exams, barium studies, CT scan and biopsy. A small camera inserted into a pill gives a close-up view of the whole digestive system and although costly, is available at most hospitals.
5. Prepare for Treatment Options
Treatment is based on the type of small intestine cancer, the location and if it has spread to other areas. The treatment of choice is surgery to remove the cancer. A resection may be done in which the cancerous section of the small intestine is removed and the ends of the newly resected intestine are sewn together--this is called an anastamosis. Surgery can be a bypass surgery in which the section of small intestine with the tumor is bypassed so food can continue to be digested and nutrients absorbed. Chemotherapy and radiation may be used after surgery as an adjunct in treatment. Clinical trials are also available and are especially helpful if conventional treatment has failed or if surgery isn't an option.
