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Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer or rectal cancer is any cancer (a growth, lump or a tumour) of the colon and the rectum. The World Health Organization and CDC say it is the second most common cancer worldwide, after lung cancer.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer
Going to the toilet more often
Diarrhoea
Constipation
A feeling that the bowel does not empty properly after a bowel movement
Blood in feces (stools)
Pains in the abdomen
Bloating in the abdomen
A feeling of fullness in the abdomen (maybe even after not eating for a while)
Vomiting
Fatigue (tiredness)
Inexplicable weight loss
A lump in the tummy or a lump in the back passage felt by your doctor
Unexplained iron deficiency in men, or in women after the menopause
Small bowel cancer starts when healthy cells in the lining of the small bowel change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread. These changes can take a long time to develop. Both genetic and environmental factors can cause such changes, although the specific causes of small bowel cancer are generally not well understood.
Types of small bowel cancer
There are 5 main types of small bowel cancer:
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of small bowel cancer, usually occurring in the duodenum or jejunum. Adenocarcinoma begins in the gland cells of the small bowel.
Sarcoma
Small bowel sarcoma is generally a leiomyosarcoma, which is a tumor that arises in the muscle tissue that makes up part of the intestine. This type of tumor most often occurs in the ileum. Learn more about sarcoma.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
GIST is an uncommon tumor that is believed to start in cells found in the walls of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, called interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). GIST belongs to a group of cancers called soft tissue sarcomas. Learn more about gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
Carcinoid tumor
Carcinoid tumors are classified as neuroendocrine tumors. These are tumors that start in the hormone-producing cells of various organs and generally occur in the ileum. Learn more about carcinoid tumors.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymph system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma that occurs in the small bowel usually occurs in the jejunum or ileum and is most commonly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Learn more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
