When it comes to digestive health, some diseases can be particularly dangerous but are often overlooked — Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of them. Simply put, it is a group of cancers that affect the digestive system, from the oesophagus to the colon. Despite advancements in medical science, fighting against these cancers remains challenging due to the complex risk factors, varying healthcare accessibility worldwide, and late diagnoses. Incidentally, gastrointestinal cancer accounts for 26% of the global cancer incidence and 35% of all cancer-related deaths. Stomach cancer is one of the most common cancers in Singapore, taking more than 300 lives each year.
GI cancer is certainly a cause for concern, and it is crucial to safeguard yourself and your loved ones against it. This blog article will delve into the global impact of GI cancer and explore the types, signs, causes, and available gastrointestinal cancer treatments.
What is Gastrointestinal Cancer?
Gastrointestinal cancer occurs in the GI tract, a 25 to 30 feet long pathway that extends from the mouth to the anus. Occasionally, a tumour can form due to various DNA mutations or defects. Medical experts aren’t entirely sure of the cause of the abnormal cell growth, but it has been linked to other underlying conditions, lifestyle changes, and genetics. Additionally, there are various forms of this cancer, such as:
- Oesophageal cancer:
Oesophageal cancer begins at the oesophagus tube, a hollow muscular tube that moves food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. Malignant cells develop on the tissues of the oesophagus tube and spread to other areas in the body as the cancer advances.
- Gastric/stomach cancer:
Stomach cancer develops when the cells on the stomach tissues grow abnormally; it most commonly grows on the glandular tissue of the stomach. There are a few rare types of stomach cancer, such as small cell carcinomas, lymphomas, neuroendocrine tumours and gastrointestinal stromal tumours.
- Colorectal cancer:
Colorectal cancer, as the name suggests, develops in either the colon or the rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are grouped together because they share many common features. Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps.
- Liver cancer:
Liver cancer is a disease that begins when cells grow abnormally on the liver tissue. The most common type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other less common types of liver cancer include intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma..
- Pancreatic cancer:
This type of cancer occurs when there is cell growth in the pancreas. The pancreas is the organ in your body that lies behind the lower part of your stomach and is responsible for creating the enzymes that help food digestion and the hormones that help manage blood sugar.
While the cause of these cancers is not quite clear, medical professionals do assert that there are certain causes of gastrointestinal cancer.
What are the Causes of Gastrointestinal Cancer?
Some doctors have linked the following risk factors to an increased chance of developing gastrointestinal cancer:
- Infection in the stomach
- Obesity
- High consumption of salty foods
Of course, not everyone with these risk factors has gastrointestinal cancer, and that is why it is important to always be vigilant of the signs of gastrointestinal cancer.
Some such signs are:
- Stomach ache
- Nausea and vomiting
- A bloated sensation after eating
- Indigestion
- Lethargy and fatigue
- Rapid weight loss
- Trouble swallowing
If these symptoms are present, it is advisable to go see a doctor, to rule out any possibilities of cancer. A Gastroenterologist (a medical doctor specialising in gastrointestinal disorders) in Singapore will put you through a few screening tests to arrive at a correct diagnosis.
Let’s discuss a few of these screening options.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Screening Methods
While the aforementioned symptoms are present in certain cases, there are occasions where cancer patients present as asymptomatic. Due to this, these gastrointestinal cancer screening methods are especially useful for doctors to diagnose cancer even before the symptoms present themselves — the added benefit of this is that an early diagnosis equates to a higher survival rate.
Some of the most common GI cancer screening methods are as follows:
- Colonoscopy:
This is a type of colorectal cancer screening which involves inserting a long flexible tube that has a small camera and light attached to the end of it through the anus. It is guided up to the rectum, where the device will identify the presence of any polyps, as well as any masses, tumours, or signs of bleeding.
- Gastroscopy:
This is performed to identify any abnormal cells in the stomach. Similar to the colonoscopy, the gastroscopy employs a thin, hollow and flexible tube with a video camera on one end. This tube is inserted into the mouth to visualise the oral cavity, oesophagus, and stomach. Upon detecting an abnormal tissue, a tissue sample will be taken and sent to a pathologist.
- GASTROClear:
The rapid development of technology has birthed a molecular blood test to help with the early detection of gastric cancers, known as GASTROClear screening. It plays a pivotal role in detecting asymptomatic cancers even in the very early stages. It works by measuring a panel of 12 microRNA biomarkers in a single blood draw (5ml), detecting 87% of all stomach cancers. Upon completion of the test, patients will be classified based on their risk scores: low risk, intermediate risk, or high risk.
It’s important to acknowledge that while these tests are generally reliable, instances of false positives or false negatives can occur. However, if an individual is diagnosed with cancer, your doctor can recommend a range of gastrointestinal cancer treatments tailored to your needs
Types of Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatments
At Alpha Digestive & Liver Centre, the type of treatment that is recommended to you will be highly specific to your case; how far the cancer has spread/ which stage it’s in, your health complications, your medical history, and a whole list of factors need to be taken into consideration to draft a treatment plan
Some of the established GI cancer treatments prescribed to patients include:
- Endoscopic mucosal resection:
This procedure involves removing the early-stage cancer from the lining of the digestive tract. The removal is done via an endoscope.
- Radiation Therapy:
Stomach cancer is sometimes treated with external radiation therapy. A machine outside the body is used to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer.
- Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy for stomach cancer is usually systemic, meaning it is injected into a vein or given by mouth. By using this method, the drugs enter the bloodstream to reach cancer cells throughout the body.
Understanding the symptoms, determining your next steps, and exploring treatment options can feel overwhelming. Take the stress out of the process — book a consultation with Alpha Digestive and Liver Centre today for personalised treatment plans from an experienced Gastroenterologist
If you have further enquiries on our services, or any urgent matters call or WhatsApp us at (65) 8876 9034 and our experienced team will get in touch with you.
References
1. Arnold M; Abnet CC;Neale RE;Vignat J;Giovannucci EL;McGlynn KA; Bray F; Global burden of 5 major types of gastrointestinal cancer. Gastroenterology. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32247694/.
2. Stomach cancer. Singapore Cancer Society. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/learn-about-cancer/types-of-cancer/stomach-cancer.html#:~:text=Stomach%20Cancer%20is%20the%207,than%20300%20lives%20in%20Singapore*.
3. What is colorectal cancer?: How does colorectal cancer start? How Does Colorectal Cancer Start? | American Cancer Society. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/what-is-colorectal-cancer.html.
4. Liver cancer. Mayo Clinic. April 28, 2023. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/liver-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353659.
5. Pancreatic cancer. Mayo Clinic. May 4, 2024. Accessed December 17, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatic-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20355421#:~:text=Pancreatic%20cancer%20is%20cancer%20that,that%20help%20manage%20blood%20sugar.
6. Stages of Colon Cancer. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Accessed December 13, 2024. https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/types/colon/stages#:~:text=There%20are%20five%20stages%20of,less%20the%20cancer%20has%20spread.
