Types of Digestive Tumors

The most common malignant tumors are the ones found growing in the digestive system organs, with about one out of every 2,017 Americans dying from some form of digestive system cancer yearly (see Resources). Digestive tumors are abnormal growths developing throughout the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas colon and anus. While some tumors are noncancerous (benign) others are cancerous (malignant). Because these tumors are solid and grow slowly, they're tough to treat once they've formed and many aren't found until they've already spread to other parts of the body.

Pancreatic Tumors

• The pancreas is the primary organ for digesting food. Pancreatic endocrine tumors develop from pancreatic cells producing hormones and may not be cancerous. However, as non-functioning benign tumors, they can still block the small intestine or the biliary tract, bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract.

  Pancreatic tumors, found more in men, often grow in smokers, heavy drinkers, diabetics and people with a family history of pancreatic cancers. However, they can also develop in people without these factors.

Esophagus Tumors

• Noncancerous tumors found in the esophagus area are rare and usually more annoying than harmful. Most are small, not needing treatment. Most all tumors of the esophagus are malignant, starting in the cell lining the esophagus walls. Nicotine and excessive alcohol are the two greatest causes of esophagus cancer, with men more prone to develop it than women.

Stomach Tumors

• Most stomach tumors are malignant. Stomach tumors can grow and spread to the lymph nodes before they're found. Symptoms are similar to those of a peptic ulcer. Usually surgery is needed for successful treatment. Generally blacks, Hispanics, American Indians and people living in northern climates are the most likely to have adenocarcinoma of the stomach, the most prevalent stomach cancer worldwide. Diet is believed to play a key role in this stomach cancer, as it's mostly found among disadvantaged people with poor eating habits who are 50 and older.

Colorectal Cancer

• Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading killer of women, next to breast cancer. Growing slowly without symptoms for a long period of time, colorectal cancer symptoms include fatigue and rectal bleeding causing weakness. Other signs are excruciating bowel movements and painful sitting. If caught early, it has a good chance of being cured. In most cases it's treated with surgery. People who can't tolerate surgery are treated by a procedure which dries out and shrinks the tumor.

  Colorectal polyps are tissue growths from the intestinal or rectal wall and can be either cancerous or noncancerous. Bigger polyps tend to be more cancerous than smaller ones. Other than rectal bleeding, colorectal polyps don't cause symptoms. A diagnosis is done through doing a colonoscopy.

Liver, Bile and Gallbladder Tumors

• Cancerous liver tumors either start in the liver or have come from other cancer sites in the body (metastatic liver cancer), with most cases being metastatic. The most common type is primary liver cancer, also called hepatoma, usually caused by complications from hepatitis B and C, alcoholism and chronic liver cirrhosis.

  Cancer of the bile ducts (gallbladder) is rare although can be fatal if not treated. It's found by doing an ultrasound. Common symptoms are itchiness, weight loss, lack of appetite, abdominal pain and jaundice.

Anus Tumors

• Most anal cancers in Americans come from squamous cells (Bowen disease) lining the anal margin and most of the anal canal. Noncancerous tumors include polyps which are small bumpy growths and warts. Polyps can be inflammatory, lymphoid or skin tags, also called fibroephithelial polyps. Warts are growths caused by infection with a human papillomavirus (HPV). Although they are noncancerous, people who have HPVs run greater risks for developing anal cancer.

Symptoms and Warnings

• Symptoms indicating a digestive system tumor may include anything from diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain to bleeding. In most cases early detection is the key to treating cancerous tumors. If you experience any symptoms, get medical attention for a diagnosis and treatment.

  After age 50 you should have yearly fecal occult blood tests, along with your annual physical, as well as a protoscopy which is a visual examination of the rectum. Beginning at age 55, you should get a colonoscopy every 10 years to check for polyps. If you have a family history of colon cancer, colonoscopies are advised before age 50 and as well as repeated more frequently than every 10 years.