After you’ve received a small intestine cancer diagnosis, you may have several questions about next steps, including treatment. When it comes to treatment, the OSUCCC – James team of gastrointestinal cancer experts is trained in the latest treatments for small intestine cancer.
At the OSUCCC – James, we’re committed to best-in-class care that’s tailored to you and your cancer. Our small intestine cancer specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and more work together on your individualized plan for treatment, ensuring you receive the best care possible.
While most treatment options for small intestine cancer involve surgery, there are a few nonsurgical procedures available as well. As part of your plan, your doctor(s) will recommend treatments designed to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Treatment options for small intestine cancer
Depending on the location and staging of your small intestine cancer, your doctor(s) may recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Surgical procedures for small intestine cancer
Surgery is the preferred (and most effective) treatment option for small intestine cancer.
If cancer is contained in the area where it originated — in this case, the small intestine — your doctor may recommend surgery to remove all the cancer in one procedure. Additionally, if your cancer has spread to other areas of the body, surgery may still be recommended to limit its impact on other organs (such as blocking the intestinal tract). Chemotherapy and radiation may also be recommended before or after surgery to help shrink a tumor or prevent it from coming back.
Segmental resection
A segmental resection removes the part of the small intestine where cancer is present and tissue on the other side of the tumor. This procedure is done through an incision in the abdomen, but some segmental resections may be laparoscopic (using smaller incisions and smaller tools). Laparoscopic surgery is less invasive and can help you get back to daily living faster.
With a segmental resection, the two ends of the intestine are reconnected after surgery, and you will be able to eat and drink normally within a matter of days.
Pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure)
The Whipple procedure is a common procedure used to treat pancreatic cancer but is also used in some small intestine cancers. For small intestine cancer, the Whipple procedure is used to treat cancers in the duodenum, which is the first (upper) part of the small intestine.
This procedure is complex but can performed through one larger incision in the abdomen, or robotically. During robotic surgery, a small three-dimensional camera known as a laparoscope is used that allows surgeons to view inside the abdominal cavity and areas of the small intestine where cancer is present. Surgeons operate small robotic arms and tools to perform the procedure.
The OSUCCC – James is among the nation’s highest-volume cancer centers in performing the Whipple procedure for small intestine cancer, making our team of experts among the most experienced in the United States.
Intestinal Bypass
Surgeons may perform an intestinal bypass procedure to allow the digestive process to continue and to alleviate blockage. The procedure will either remove part of the tumor, allowing food to be digested and bypassing the small intestinal blockage, or will place a stent through the tumor to create the bypass.
Palliative surgery
If small intestine cancer has spread to other parts of the body, surgery may still be an option to relieve pain and other symptoms. Palliative procedures for small intestine cancer can allow you to eat and digest normally and/or alleviate problems caused by abdominal pain and nausea.
Advanced endoscopy
An advanced endoscopic procedure can help doctors get a more detailed view of the digestive tract and areas affected by small intestine cancer. These procedures result in highly focused treatments that may allow for the collection of tissue samples, as well as alleviate blockages in the small intestine and more.
Lymph node dissection
Lymph node dissection can occur in conjunction with a segmental resection, removing lymph nodes near the small intestine that may be affected by cancer cells.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy may be used to treat small intestine cancer that can’t be removed through surgery or is causing pain or problems within the intestines. Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays to destroy cancer cells and may also be used following surgery to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is not among the most used treatments for small intestine cancer, primarily because small intestine cancer can be resistant to anticancer drugs. Chemotherapy is typically administered through an IV or as a pill to destroy cancer cells.
If your small intestine cancer has spread to other parts of the body, your doctor(s) may advise chemotherapy as a treatment option.
Other procedures for small intestine cancer care
When cancer spreads to other organs outside the small intestine, it may not be completely removed by surgery. To alleviate pain and symptoms, and to make daily living as comfortable as possible, other procedures may be recommended.
If possible, your surgeon(s) will remove as much of the tumor as possible (or where it’s blocking the small intestine) so that food can continue to be digested. Additional supportive therapies may be recommended as well.
Small intestine cancer research and clinical trials
The OSUCCC – James is one of the foremost cancer research centers in the United States, with a dedicated team of small intestine cancer specialists who are working on new treatment methods and care options.
Clinical trials are the result of groundbreaking research efforts by the experts at the OSUCCC – James. At any given time, hundreds of open clinical trials may be available. The OSUCCC – James is one of only a few cancer centers funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and conducts regular phase I and phase II clinical trials on novel anticancer drugs.
Many of the cancer researchers at the OSUCCC – James are dedicated to understand what makes small intestine cancer move, spread, or reoccur.
If you have received a small intestine cancer diagnosis, we are here to help. You can call The James Line at 800-293-5066 (toll free) or 614-293-5066 (Ohio), available 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
Related Resources
Small Intestine Cancer Prevention
Small Intestine Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
Small Intestine Cancer Treatment Team