Intestinal Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Written by Harsha Moole, MD. Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Intestinal Cancer?
An oncologist (a cancer doctor) and a surgeon (a doctor who operates) usually treat intestinal cancer. A gastroenterologist (a doctor who treats the digestive system) often helps find it. A pathologist checks tissue samples for cancer cells. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is intestinal cancer?
Here, intestinal cancer means small intestine cancer. It is a rare disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the small intestine. It is rarer than cancers in other parts of the digestive system, such as the colon and stomach. The small intestine is a long tube that connects the stomach to the large intestine. It has three parts called the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
There are five types of small intestine cancer. They are adenocarcinoma, sarcoma, neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and lymphoma. Adenocarcinoma starts in glandular cells in the lining of the small intestine. It is the most common type. These tumors may grow and block the intestine.
Symptoms
Small intestine cancer can cause these signs.
- Pain or cramps in the middle of the abdomen
- Weight loss with no known reason
- A lump in the abdomen
- Blood in the stool
These and other signs may be caused by small intestine cancer or by other conditions.
Causes and who gets it
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. Not everyone with a risk factor will get small intestine cancer. Some people who get it have no known risk factors.
- Eating a high-fat diet is a risk factor.
- Having Crohn disease is a risk factor.
- Having celiac disease is a risk factor.
- Having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is a risk factor.
Most adenocarcinomas occur in the part of the small intestine near the stomach. Most leiomyosarcomas, a kind of sarcoma, occur in the part near the large intestine.
How doctors diagnose it
Your doctor will ask about your personal and family health history and do a physical exam. Staging is how doctors find out if cancer cells have spread in or near the small intestine. Blood chemistry studies and liver function tests check a blood sample for certain substances.
An endoscope is a thin tube with a light and a lens for viewing. In a capsule endoscopy, you swallow a capsule the size of a large pill. It has a tiny wireless camera. The capsule passes out of the body during a bowel movement. A double balloon endoscopy may be done if the results of a capsule endoscopy are abnormal.
In a biopsy, cells or tissues are removed so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer. A CT scan makes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles. An MRI uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. For an upper GI series, you drink a liquid that contains barium.
Treatment
Treatment depends on whether the tumor can be removed by surgery. Surgery is the most common treatment of small intestine cancer. In a resection, the doctor may remove the section of the small intestine that has cancer and join the cut ends together. The doctor will usually remove lymph nodes near the small intestine and check them for cancer. A bypass lets food go around a tumor that is blocking the intestine but cannot be removed.
Some patients may be given radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other radiation. It kills cancer cells or keeps them from growing. Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop cancer cells from growing. The drugs kill the cells or stop them from dividing. Treatment for small intestine cancer may cause side effects.
New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Follow-up tests may be needed.
When to see a doctor
Check with your doctor if you have any of the signs listed under Symptoms. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have severe belly pain or pressure, vomiting blood, or bleeding that will not stop.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can ask about your health history and do a physical exam. This doctor can also help you keep track of follow-up tests.
Common questions
Is intestinal cancer common?
No, small intestine cancer is a rare disease. It is rarer than cancers in the colon and stomach.
What is the main treatment for intestinal cancer?
Surgery is the most common treatment of small intestine cancer. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also used.
What affects the outlook for small intestine cancer?
The type of small intestine cancer affects the chance of recovery and the treatment options. It also matters whether the cancer has spread and whether surgery can remove all of it.
Can intestinal cancer come back?
Yes, small intestine cancer can come back after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the small intestine or in other parts of the body.
Sources
- National Cancer Institute - Small Intestine Cancer Treatment (PDQ) Patient Version
- National Cancer Institute - Small Intestine Cancer Patient Version
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
