Intestinal Cancer

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If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with intestinal cancer, you want to make informed decisions about your care. You want to find the best intestinal cancer treatment options for your individual needs and situation. Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) can help.

At CTCA, treating cancer is all we do. Here, our cancer experts are committed to providing you with a comprehensive cancer treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. From our innovative treatments, to the caring and supportive environment in which they are delivered, at CTCA our main focus is on you and your healing.

To learn more about CTCA and our personalized approach to cancer care, call us today at 800-615-3055 or Chat Online with an Oncology Information Specialists. We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What are the intestines?

The small intestine is part of the digestive system, which processes food for energy and rids the body of solid waste. The small intestine is the longest section of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It is a long tube that connects the stomach to the large intestine (bowel). The job of the small intestine is to break down or digest foods and absorb nutrients.

The small intestine is divided into three parts and four layers. The three parts are the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. The duodenum is closest to the stomach, and is where the stomach empties its contents. The jejunum and the ileum are where all the nutrients in food are absorbed into the blood stream. The jejunum comes before the ileum, which is closest to the colon. The four layers of the small intestine are the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa.

The large intestine is the long, tube-like organ that is connected to the small intestine at one end and the anus at the other. It is the lower part of the digestive system; and it absorbs water and transports waste out of the body. The large intestine has four parts: cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal.

Types of Intestinal Cancer

Small intestine cancer is a rare form of cancer that occurs when cancerous cells are found in the tissues of the small intestine. There are several types of small intestine cancer, the most common of which is adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinoma begins in the lining of the small intestine and occurs most frequently in the duodenum, the part of the small intestine nearest to the stomach. Aside from adenocarcinoma, other types of small intestine cancer are sarcoma (begins in connective or supportive tissue), carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and lymphomas (begins in the immune system cells).

Cancers of the large intestine include colon and rectal cancer. Colon cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon, the longest part of the large intestine. Rectal cancer is cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum, the last several inches of the large intestine before the anus.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with intestinal cancer and are searching for information about your treatment options, call Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at 800-615-3055, and speak with one of our Oncology Information Specialists (OIS). We are here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also Chat Online anytime with a member of our OIS team.

Intestinal Cancer Symptoms

Although intestinal cancer is rare, it is still important to be aware of the potential signs and symptoms of the disease. Intestinal cancer symptoms are most often the result of disruptions caused by the cancer within the intestine. Intestinal cancer can make it difficult for digesting food to pass easily, and the tumor can bleed and cause black stools. Many of the symptoms associated with intestinal cancer may also be the result of other problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and peptic ulcers.

Potential intestinal cancer symptoms include:

  • Abdominal pain, cramps (i.e., after eating)
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Weak or tired feeling
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Bloody stool (may be bright red or black in color)
  • A lump in the abdomen
  • Jaundice
  • Loss of appetite

NOTE:  Although these may be signs of intestinal cancer, they may also be the result of other problems. If you are experiencing any of these possible intestinal cancer symptoms, it is important to see your doctor. Only a medical professional can determine if your symptoms are the result of intestinal cancer or another condition.

Intestinal Cancer Treatment

The treatment of intestinal cancer depends on a number of factors, including the stage of the disease and your overall health. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we provide you with a variety of treatment options integrated into a personalized intestinal cancer treatment plan. Here, our expert care team of doctors and practitioners delivers comprehensive cancer treatment—including conventional and complementary therapies—all under one roof.

Conventional Intestinal Cancer Treatment Options

The most common forms of conventional treatment used for treating intestinal cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery is the oldest form of treatment, involving the physical removal of the cancer, and in many cases, some tissue surrounding it. Radiation is often used in combination with other treatment options, or when surgical removal of the cancer is not possible. Radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays to destroy or slow tumor growth. Like radiation, chemotherapy is often used in conjunction with other treatment options. Chemotherapy is a combination of chemicals used to kill or slow down tumor growth.

Although many of the conventional treatment options used to treat intestinal cancer have been used for years, new advances in the field of medicine continue to evolve how these treatments are delivered. Through our continued research on treatments and implementation methods, CTCA strives to always be on the leading-edge of cancer treatment, and to provide our patients with the most up-to-date conventional intestinal cancer treatments available.

Complementary Intestinal Cancer Treatment Options

In addition to providing patients with the most up-to-date conventional treatment options, CTCA also provides patients with a variety of complementary therapies. These complementary treatment options include nutritional, physical, psychological and spiritual therapies.

The complementary intestinal cancer treatment options offered as CTCA include:

CTCA Hospitals

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we offer integrative cancer treatments using a compassionate and patient-centered approach. Here, you will discover a welcoming, supportive environment designed to help you relax and stay focused on what really matters—you and your healing.

At CTCA, you will find a shared closeness between our staff and patients that is not found in other treatment centers. Our cancer experts are dedicated to helping people fight cancer the best way we know how—by listening to them and supporting their individual needs. With our Patient Empowerment MedicineSM (PEM) model, we encourage every patient to be an active participant in the treatment process.

If you are interested in learning more about our hospitals, including the treatments offered, our experienced doctors and practitioners, or the location of each of our facilities, please visit our Hospital Locations page. 

More on Intestinal Cancer Treatment Options at CTCA

If you or a loved one has been recently diagnosed with intestinal cancer, Cancer Treatment Centers of America can help. Through our innovative therapies, nurturing facilities and caring staff of cancer experts, CTCA is proud to offer comprehensive intestinal cancer treatment options that focus on the patient as a whole person. At CTCA, we make your fight our fight.

For more information about CTCA and our intestinal cancer treatment options, call us anytime at 800-615-3055, or contact us through our Online Chat.   

Additional Cancer Information and Resources

Don't miss this additional intestinal cancer information. Click on the links to the right to learn more about intestinal cancer or call 1-800-615-3055 to discuss your treatment options with one of our Oncology Information Specialists.



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