Early symptoms of small intestine cancer
Disease description:
I've been feeling nauseous and unwell lately. I already have gastritis, and I'm worried it might be small intestine cancer. I would like to ask, what are the early symptoms of small intestine cancer?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Shen Yonghua
Early symptoms of small intestine cancer may include:
1. Abdominal pain: As the tumor grows within the small intestine, it may compress surrounding tissues or cause intestinal spasms, leading to abdominal pain. This pain may be intermittent or temporarily relieved after gastrointestinal gas expulsion or bowel movements.
2. Indigestion: Patients with small intestine cancer may experience weakened digestive function, such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach bloating. This may occur because the tumor affects normal peristalsis and secretion of digestive fluids in the small intestine.
3. Weight loss: Due to the tumor's irritation of the intestine and weakened digestive function, patients may experience decreased appetite, increased frequency of bowel movements, and consequently, weight loss.
4. Black stool or blood in stool: When the tumor surface ulcerates and bleeds, blood may be passed with the stool, resulting in black stool or hematochezia. This is caused by prolonged decomposition and oxidation of blood within the intestinal tract.
5. Abdominal mass: As the tumor grows, patients may feel a firm, irregular, and movable mass in the abdomen. This typically becomes noticeable only when the tumor has grown to a considerable size.
Patients experiencing the above symptoms should seek medical attention promptly.
