Small bowel cancer

Treatment

• Surgery. Surgeons work to remove all of the small bowel cancer, when possible. If cancer affects a small portion of the small intestine, surgeons may remove only that section and rejoin the cut ends of the intestine. In some cases, all of the small intestine may need to be removed.
• If a small bowel cancer can't be removed, surgeons might perform a bypass to relieve a blockage in the small intestine.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy usually involves a combination of medications that kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells. It's typically given through a vein in your arm, but can also be in pill form. Some of the chemotherapy medications used in the treatment of small bowel cancer include capecitabine, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil,and irintotecan. Leucovorin  can be used with fluorouracil to help it work better.
• For small bowel cancer, chemotherapy might be recommended after surgery if there's a risk that the cancer could return. For advanced cancer, chemotherapy might help relieve signs and symptoms.