Digestive Cancer

The bile ducts are thin tubes that carry bile from the liver to the small intestine. Cancer that starts in a bile duct is also called cholangiocarcinoma.

Symptoms of bile duct cancer include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine and light-colored or greasy stools. When found early, bile duct cancer treatment usually involves surgery. More advanced cancer may involve a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Learn more about bile duct cancer.

Esophageal cancer starts in the esophagus, which moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Men are four times more likely to develop it than women.

Early-stage esophageal cancer symptoms are rare. Later symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, frequent heartburn or indigestion, hoarseness or coughing, or chest pressure. Surgery is the most common esophageal cancer treatment, but small tumors may be removed without surgery. More advanced cases may need radiation, chemotherapy or both (chemoradiation). Learn more about esophageal cancer.

Gallbladder cancer starts in the gallbladder, which stores bile until the body needs it for digestion. It is not a common cancer in the United States, but it affects women twice as often as men.

Gallbladder cancer symptoms include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) and pain or lumps in the right side of the abdomen. Early-stage cancer is usually treated with surgery. In more advanced cases, radiation, chemotherapy or both may be used before or after surgery. Learn more about gallbladder cancer.

Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors are uncommon cancers that start in the cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They develop in neuroendocrine cells, which help with digestion. Depending on the size and location of the tumor, treatment may involve surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Learn more about gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) develop in the GI tract. They are most often begin in the stomach or small intestine, but may develop in the colon as well. Surgery is the most common treatment for these tumors. Learn more about GISTs.

Many types of cancer spread to the liver, but liver cancer starts in the liver. Many people with liver cancer also have hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver, and it is much more common among men than women.

When liver cancer reaches an advanced stage, symptoms may include yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), abdominal swelling, pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade, or a mass or lump under the ribs. Treatment may involve surgery to remove part or all of the liver. Radiation or chemotherapy may be used to destroy cancerous cells, and drug therapy can slow or stop cancer growth. Learn more about liver cancer.

Pancreatic cancer begins in the pancreas, which produces hormones and enzymes that aid digestion. It’s not common, but people with an inherited gene mutation have a higher risk of developing it.

Advanced pancreatic cancer symptoms may include yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine, light-colored or greasy stools and an enlarged gallbladder or liver. If cancer has not spread beyond the pancreas, surgery is the most common treatment. Radiation and chemotherapy may be treatment options for more advanced cases. Learn more about pancreatic cancer.

Also known as gastric cancer, stomach cancer begins in the stomach cells. It affects men more often than women, and is usually diagnosed after age 65.

Symptoms of stomach cancer can be very general — poor appetite, abdominal pain, heartburn or indigestion and nausea — and may be caused by many non-cancerous conditions. Stomach cancer treatment usually involves surgery to remove the tumor. If cancer has spread to nearby tissue or organs, those also may be removed. Radiation, chemotherapy or both may be used to treat cancer that has spread. Learn more about stomach cancer.