Small Intestine Cancer---Pingyi Chang

Introduction

The small intestine is the portion of the digestive system that is in charge of breaking down and absorbing nutrients. Small intestine cancer, often referred to as small bowel cancer, is an uncommon but serious kind of gastrointestinal cancer. Even while small intestine cancer is less common than other gastrointestinal cancers, its aggressive nature and sometimes delayed detection make it a severe health concern. Improving results and encouraging a better lifestyle require an understanding of the symptoms, possible causes, and preventative strategies.

Symptoms

Small intestine cancer can be demonstrated with a variety of symptoms, which are often nonspecific and can overlap with other conditions.Common symptoms include abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation. Other than that, a few patients might respond with gastrointestinal bleeding which could be dark stools or blood that is visible in thestool.Due to the small intestine's length and complexity, these symptoms can sometimes be mistaken for other conditions such as Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

Potential Causes

There are a few known risk factors for small bowel cancer, but the major cause

remains unknown. These risk factors range from inherited susceptibility to some

medical conditions and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Certain inherited conditions, such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis, significantly increase the risk of developing small intestine cancer. Additionally, chronic inflammatory diseases of the intestine, such as Crohn's disease and celiac disease, have been linked to a higher incidence of this type of cancer. Diet and lifestyle also played a significant role in the cause of cancer. Whereas, unhealthy diet, including excessive alcohol abuse and smoking has been associated with an increased risk of small intestine cancer. Besides, being exposed to some chemicals and carcinogens in the environment or workplace results in the growth of cancer cells in the small intestine.

Healthier Lifestyle and Prevention Tips

A healthier lifestyle could have significantly reduced the risk of developing small

intestine cancer. Following are some tips that could help to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

1. Balanced Diet: By eating whole foods that come primarily from plants like fruits; vegetables; whole grains; meatless proteins such as soy products so they do not have trans fats- will make your stomach feel better.
2. Exercise: Regular exercise maintains a healthy weight, ensuring proper
digestive functions in the body. Further, exercise helped in reducing risks of different types of cancer including gastrointestinal cancer.
3. Stress management: Thus, care has to be taken not to let chronic stress affect the digestive system. Some stress management practices include use of meditation, yoga and deep breathing which are beneficial to the stomach and the whole body.