|  | Cancer | Other Cancers

Life Expectancy in Cancer of the Small Bowel

Cancers of the small bowel (also known as the small intestine) can be fatal in some cases. The small bowel is vital for the proper absorption of vitamins. A person diagnosed with cancer of the small bowel may have a vastly decreased life expectancy. The stage to which the cancer has advanced, along with other factors, will determine each patient's life expectancy.

  1. Factors

    • Various factors will be taken into account to determine a patient's prognosis. These will include the size of the cancerous growths, the stage to which the cancer has advanced and the patient's age and physical fitness.

    Concurrence with Other Cancers

    • Cancer in the small bowel often is diagnosed alongside cancers in the colon. Breast cancer is another cancer that may also be diagnosed concurrently with cancer of the small bowel. One in four cases of cancer of the small bowel occur concurrently with another form of cancer, which may shorten a person's life span even further than cancer of the small bowel alone.

    Survival Rates

    • This form of cancer is very rare, so there is a limited amount of data that can be used to calculate average life expectancy for those suffering from this type of cancer. That being said, according to Cancer.net, the five-year survival rate ranges from 20 percent to 50 percent, assuming the cancer can be removed surgically.

    Stages

    • The patient's prognosis depends in part on the stage of the cancer. The earlier that the cancer is diagnosed, the greater a patient's chances of survival. In stage one, the cancer is localized in the small intestine. In stage two, the cancer has spread into the muscle wall, and sometimes into neighboring organs. By stage three, the cancer has traveled to the lymph nodes, and by stage four the cancer has traveled to the major organs of the body.

    Clinical Trials

    • For patients who have a very short life expectancy, participation in a clinical trial may be the best option. Hospitals such as the Mayo Clinic periodically run clinical trials for small bowel cancer.

Other Cancers - Related Articles