What is Intestinal Cancer?
Intestinal cancer happens when cells in the small or large intestine grow out of control. These cancer cells can form tumors that make it hard for your body to digest food the right way.
Common related conditions
Causes of intestinal cancer
Doctors don’t always know what causes intestinal cancer. But it usually starts when cells in the intestine get damaged and grow the wrong way.
Some possible causes include:
- Changes in your genes (DNA)
- Long-term inflammation in the intestines
- A history of polyps (small growths in the intestine)
Risk factors for intestinal cancer
Some things can make a person more likely to get this kind of cancer, such as:
- Being older (most people are over 50)
- Eating a lot of red or processed meat
- Having a family history of cancer
- Smoking or drinking alcohol
- Having diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
Symptoms of intestinal cancer
Sometimes there are no early signs. But as the cancer grows, you might notice:
- Stomach pain or cramping
- Blood in your stool
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying
- Changes in how often you go to the bathroom
Diagnosing intestinal cancer
Doctors use tests to find out if you have intestinal cancer. These may include:
- A colonoscopy (a camera looks inside your intestines)
- CT scans or MRI scans to see inside your body
- A biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is taken and checked for cancer
Treatment of intestinal cancer
The treatment depends on the type and stage of the cancer. Common treatments include:
- Surgery to remove the cancer
- Chemotherapy (medicine to kill cancer cells)
- Radiation therapy (using high-energy rays to shrink tumors)
- Targeted therapy or immunotherapy (newer treatments that help your body fight the cancer)