Small bowel cancer (also known as small intestine cancer) develops when cells in the small bowel become abnormal and continue to grow, forming a mass or lump known as a tumour says one of the best gastro surgeons in Kolkata.
The small bowel is a long tube that transports food between your stomach and large bowel and absorbs nutrients from it.
Small Bowel Cancer Symptoms:
- Feeling exceptionally fatigued or weak
- Abdominal discomfort
- Jaundice
- Nausea and vomiting
- Watery diarrhoea
- Unexpected weight reduction
- Flushing of the skin
Risk Factors for Small Bowel Cancer:
In most cases, the cause of small bowel cancer is unknown. However, there are various risk factors to consider. Crohn’s disease and celiac disease may be associated with some small bowel cancers. According to a gastrointestinal surgeon in Kolkata a high intake of animal fat and protein, particularly processed meat and red meat, may further raise the risk.
Some uncommon genetic illnesses can increase a person’s chance of developing small bowel cancer. FAP, Lynch syndrome (hereditary non polyposis colorectal cancer, or HNPCC), Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), and cystic fibrosis are some examples. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1) has been linked to an increased risk of small bowel cancer.
- Women are more likely to have small bowel cancer than men.
- Cancers of the small intestine are more common in elderly adults. They are most commonly encountered in adults aged 60 to 70.
- Gluten causes the body’s immune system to attack the lining of the intestines in patients with celiac disease. Celiac disease patients are more likely to develop enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma, a kind of intestinal lymphoma. They may also be at a higher risk of developing small bowel cancer says a gastrointestinal surgeon in Kolkata.
- People with colon cancer are more likely to have small intestinal cancer. This might be because of common risk factors.
- If your body’s germ-fighting immune system is compromised, you may be more likely to develop small bowel cancer. Two examples are people infected with HIV and those using anti-rejection medication following an organ transplant.
- Some inherited gene alterations can raise your chance of developing small bowel cancer.
It’s not clear what may help to reduce the risk of small bowel cancer, since it’s very uncommon. For any information regarding small bowel cancer consult with Dr. Sanjoy Mandal, one of the best cancer doctors in Kolkata.