Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. It can affect any part of the digestive system, including the stomach, liver, pancreas, and intestines.
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Digestive cancers can significantly impact nutritional status by obstructing nutrient absorption and causing weight loss.
Common types of digestive cancers include colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer.
Risk factors for digestive cancers include smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, a diet high in processed meats, and chronic inflammation such as that caused by Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Early detection through screenings like colonoscopies can improve survival rates for many digestive cancers.
Treatments for digestive cancers may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and targeted therapies that specifically attack cancer cells.
Review Questions
What are some common types of digestive cancers?
How can digestive cancers impact a patient's nutritional status?
What are some key risk factors associated with developing digestive cancers?
Related terms
Colorectal Cancer: A type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum and often begins as benign polyps that become malignant over time.
Pancreatic Cancer: A highly aggressive form of cancer that begins in the tissues of the pancreas and often has poor prognosis due to late detection.
Metastasis: The process by which cancer spreads from its original site to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.