July 5, 2010 | The human digestive system is made up of the digestive tract and other organs that help the body break down and absorb food. All food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before they can be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body, making the digestive system extremely important to your overall health. With so many organs attached to the system, it should come as no surprise that cancer in this part of the body is slow growing and tends to spread over time. Colorectal, or colon cancer, is one of the more serious forms of gastrointestinal cancer, causing weight loss, stomach cramps and blood in the stool. The majority of colorectal cancers begin as polyps, or abnormal growths, inside the colon or rectum that may become cancers over a long period of time. Both men and women should be screened for colorectal cancer after soon turning 50, and should continue to be screened at regular intervals.

July 5, 2010 | The esophagus is a tube that connects the mouth and throat with the stomach. When a person swallows, the muscular wall of the esophagus contracts to help push food down to the stomach. There are two main types of cancer that can occur in the esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma occurs more commonly in the upper or middle part of the esophagus while adenocarcinoma occurs in the lower part of the esophagus. The exact cause of esophageal cancer is unknown but alcohol abuse, smoking and obesity have been shown to be contributing factors to the disease. Stopping drinking and smoking may reduce the chance of getting esophageal cancer as well as other types of cancers. A small tumor does not generally cause any symptoms but the patient may experience difficulty in swallowing as the tumor grows, making eating and drinking difficult. Cancer of the esophagus can also cause symptoms of indigestion, heartburn, vomiting and choking.

July 5, 2010 | The stomach is part of the digestive system and connects the esophagus to the small intestine. Stomach cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and can spread throughout the stomach and to other organs such as the small intestines, lymph nodes, liver, pancreas and colon. Stomach cancer is more common in some parts of the world such as Japan, Korea, parts of Eastern Europe and Latin America. Some studies do suggest that a type of bacteria known as H. pylori, which can cause inflammation and ulcers in the stomach, can be an important risk factor for developing gastrointestinal cancer. The most common symptoms of stomach cancer include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and the inability to eat a complete meal because of a feeling of fullness. Treatment plans may vary depending on the size, location, extent of the tumor and the patient’s overall health. Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and or radiation therapy.

July 5, 2010 | The liver has many important functions, including clearing toxins from the blood, metabolizing drugs, making blood proteins, and making bile which assists digestion. According to Dr. Brian Badgwell of the Winthrop P. Rockfeller Cancer Institute at UAMS, there are often no symptoms of liver cancer until the disease is in an advanced stage. When symptoms do occur, they may include pain on the right side of the upper abdomen or back and shoulder, nausea, loss of appetite, feelings of fullness and jaundice. However, you may not have symptoms and the cancer may not be found until it is advanced, which makes it harder to treat. A successful liver transplant will effectively cure liver cancer, but it is an option for a small percentage of patients. Surgical resections are successful in only about one out of three cases. However, scientists are experimenting with several promising new drugs and therapies that could help prolong the lives of people with liver cancer.

July 5, 2010 | The pancreas, a gland located behind your stomach and in front of your spine, produces juices that help break down food and hormones that help control blood sugar levels. Cancer of the pancreas is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Some of the risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer include smoking, long-term diabetes, chronic pancreatitis and certain hereditary disorders. Pancreatic cancer is hard to catch early because it doesn’t cause symptoms right away. When you do get symptoms, they are often vague or you may not notice them. They include yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain in the abdomen and back, weight loss and fatigue. Also, because the pancreas is hidden behind other organs, health care providers cannot see or feel the tumors during routine exams. Because it is often found late and it spreads quickly, pancreatic cancer can be hard to treat. Possible treatments include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.