Small Intestine Cancer

There are five types of small intestine cancer: adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and lymphoma. The National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program estimates that 12,440 people will be diagnosed with small intestine cancers in the United States in 2024, and 2,090 deaths from these cancers will occur. The five-year survival rate is estimated to be 70.2 percent.

Adenocarcinoma starts in glandular cells in the lining of the small intestine and is the most common type of small intestine cancer. Most of these tumors occur in the part of the small intestine near the stomach. They may grow and block the intestine.

Eating a high-fat diet and having Crohn’s disease or celiac disease increase the risk of developing small intestine cancer. In addition, having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a risk factor for this form of cancer.

Small Intestine Cancer Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute