Cancer of the Small Intestine
- Cancer of the Small Intestine Introduction
- Risk Factors
- Cancer of the Small Intestine Symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Cancer of the Small Intestine Treatment
- Prognosis
- Prevention
- Multimedia
- Synonyms and Keywords
- References
- Authors and Editors
Cancer of the Small Intestine Introduction
The small intestine, or small bowel, lies between the stomach and the colon. The small intestine is about 6 m (20 ft) long. Its primary function is to digest and absorb nutrients. The small intestine makes up more than 70% of the length and 90% of the surface area of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
The most common cancerous (malignant) tumors of the small bowel include adenocarcinoma, lymphoma, sarcoma, and carcinoids.
- In industrialized countries, adenocarcinomas occur most often.
- In developing countries, lymphomas are much more common.
- All these tumors have the potential to invade the bowel wall, spread into adjoining lymph nodes, and move to distant organs (metastasize).
Next: Risk Factors »
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Cancer of the Small Intestine
Cancer: What You Need to Know »
When the Diagnosis Is Cancer
The news comes like a sledgehammer into the stomach: "I’m sorry to tell you, but you have cancer."
Every year, a million Americans are devastated by news of cancer or another dreaded disease. What soon follows is an avalanche, a tidal wave of emotions: fear, anger, bewilderment, indecision, and the need to reach out to a family member or a loved one for support and encouragement.
Quite often, a person's first reaction is to think, "No way, not me. I’m a good person," as if the cancer resulted as a punishment for unresolved issues. Then comes an overwhelming need to get information. And that is probably why you are reading this.
You need to become the best and smartest patient your doctor ever had, simply because you need to be.
For most people, the cancer can be cured or controlled by surgery and, in some cases, by combinations of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Never before has the outlook for c...
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
Malignant Neoplasms of the Small Intestine »
Malignant neoplasms of the small bowel are among the rarest types of cancer, accounting for only 2% of all GI cancers.
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