Medical Advices Blog

What is gastrointestinal cancer?

The alimentary canal extends from the mouth to the anus and consists of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and large intestine (colon and rectum). Cancer can occur anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract but, interestingly, the small intestine is rarely affected, despite being a portion with a high metabolic activity. In the small intestine is where you place the main phase of digestion. Some data may demonstrate the importance of digestive cancer:

- Colorectal cancer: colorrrectal cancer is the second most common cancer-related death (the first is lung cancer), affecting 6% of the population in Western countries (industrialized) and is the cause of death 3%. 25% of cancer deaths in industrialized countries, 12.5% are due to these tumors.- Stomach Cancer: Stomach cancer accounts for 8% of deaths caused by cancer is twice as common in men than in women. Interestingly, this type of tumor incidence has been declining, but unfortunately has been replaced by an increase in cancer (adenocarcinoma) of the lower third of the esophagus in man.

- Esophageal cancer: esophageal cancer represents 3% of cancer deaths with a male to female ratio of 1.8 to 1.

- Pancreatic cancer: pancreatic cancer accounts for 4% of cancer deaths and affects both sexes equally.

- Liver cancer: Primary liver cancer (no metastasis) is clearly related to infection with hepatitis viruses (hepatitis B and C mainly). It is therefore not very common in Western countries, as these have a relatively low rate of infection with hepatitis viruses. However, they are a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Overall, primary liver tumors account for only 0.7% of deaths in Western countries. By contrast, the liver is the seat of choice for disseminated gastrointestinal tumors, particularly colorectal cancer screening.

credit to: Dr. Julio Mayol Martínez, Dr. Jonathan Rhodes

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