Are you aware of Duodenal Cancer? Let's talk about it simply!

Do you sometimes get stomach aches, nausea, and loss of appetite? Most of the time, we don't pay much attention to these things, thinking that they are normal, or maybe food poisoning. But very rarely, these minor symptoms can be a sign of a serious condition in our intestines. Today, we are going to talk about a very rare type of cancer that everyone should be aware of. That is duodenal cancer, or ``Duodenal Cancer``.

What is Duodenal Cancer?

Simply put, this is a cancer that occurs in our small intestine. In our digestive system, food travels from the stomach to the small intestine. The first part of this small intestine is called the duodenum . To be precise, the duodenum is the main place where the food coming from the stomach combines with various enzymes produced by our body, such as bile, to begin the digestion process.

Duodenal Cancer is a very rare condition. Usually, when we talk about gastrointestinal cancers, we usually hear about cancers that occur in the colon, stomach, and pancreas. It is important to be aware of this condition because it can spread very quickly.

What are the causes and risk factors for developing this cancer?

Doctors still don't know the exact cause of this cancer, but like other cancers, it is believed that certain changes in the genes of the body's cells (gene mutations) can cause those cells to grow out of control, leading to the formation of a cancerous tumor.

Researchers have identified some factors that increase this risk.

• Age: This cancer is most often diagnosed in older people, between the ages of 60 and 70. This may be because it takes time for genetic changes to accumulate.
• Family history: Sometimes genetic conditions inherited from parents can increase this risk. Some of these conditions include:
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
• Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome (PJS)
• MUTYH-associated polyposis
• Lynch Syndrome
• Diet: Eating too much red meat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates like bread and pasta, as well as eating too little vegetables and fruits, can also increase the risk.
• Smoking and alcohol: Although not all studies agree on this, some research suggests that smoking or alcohol, or both, may increase the risk of small bowel cancer.
• Other tumors in the uterus: If you have a non-cancerous (benign) tumor or small lumps (polyps) in the uterus, you are at higher risk of developing cancer there.
• Other intestinal diseases: People with intestinal diseases such as Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease may also have a slightly increased risk of this cancer.

What are the symptoms? How do you recognize it?

The biggest problem with this cancer is that the symptoms are very vague and easy to miss in the early stages. You may not notice any changes until the cancer has been growing inside your body for months.

Let's look at this table to understand these symptoms clearly.

How does the doctor diagnose this disease exactly?

This cancer is often diagnosed after the disease has spread a little. This is because the symptoms we discussed above can also be caused by many other common diseases.

But if this cancer is detected early , before it spreads, there is a much higher chance of a complete cure with treatment. That's why it's important to be aware of the symptoms.

To diagnose the disease, your doctor may recommend several tests, such as:

Imaging Tests

• Endoscopy (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy): In this, a thin tube with a camera and light is inserted through the mouth and the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are examined.
• Ultrasound scan: This helps to see if the lump is swollen and how far the cancer has spread.
• CT scan (Computed Tomography Scan): This may not be able to see the cancer directly, but it can identify things like obstructions caused by the tumor and see if the cancer has spread to other areas.

Laboratory Tests

• Biopsy: During an endoscopy, a small piece of tissue is taken from a suspicious area and examined to confirm whether it is cancerous.
• Blood tests: Since this cancer can cause anemia, a complete blood count is done to check the number of red blood cells in the blood. Blood tests are also done to check how the body's organs, such as the liver and kidneys, are working.

What are the treatments?

The main treatment for uterine cancer is surgery .

• Whipple Procedure: This is the most common surgery. It involves removing the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, part of the stomach, the gallbladder, and the bile duct. This is a somewhat complicated surgery.
• Removal of the lymph nodes: If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, surgical removal of them increases the patient's chance of survival.
• Surgery to relieve symptoms: If the patient is experiencing severe pain due to things like intestinal obstruction, surgery may also be performed to relieve that condition.
• Chemotherapy: Because this cancer is rare, chemotherapy is not commonly used. However, research shows that this treatment may be helpful in cases where surgery is not possible.

Things we can do to reduce this risk

There is no proven way to prevent this cancer, but there are several things we can do to reduce our overall cancer risk.

• Maintain a healthy diet: Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants in these foods help reduce the risk of cancer.
• Exercise and maintain a healthy weight: Keeping your body weight as low as possible can help protect against almost all types of cancer. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day, such as brisk walking, that works up a sweat.
• Talk to your doctor: If you have a genetic condition that causes small growths (polyps) in your uterus, surgery to remove them may be a good idea to reduce your risk of developing cancer in the future. It's best to talk to your doctor about this and make a decision.

Colon Cancer, Duodenal Cancer, Colon Cancer, Stomach Pain, Black Stool, Whipple Procedure, Cancer Symptoms