Causes of gastrointestinal cancer

Although the precise causes of gastrointestinal (GI) cancer are not fully understood, it is thought that several variables, such as the following, increase the risk of GI cancer:

• Age With age increased risk of gastrointestinal cancer, with most cases being discovered in those over fifty, occurs.
• Environmental exposures The chance of getting GI cancer may be raised by exposure to specific chemicals and contaminants, such as tobacco smoke and unclean water.
• Genetics An elevated risk of GI cancer is linked to specific genetic abnormalities and inherited genetic disorders.
• Lifestyle factors Smoking, binge drinking, and a diet heavy in red and processed meats are just a few lifestyle choices linked to a higher risk of gastrointestinal cancer.
• Medical conditions GI cancer risk has been associated with several medical disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.
• Other risk factors Family history of the condition, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle are other risk factors for GI cancer.

It is critical to remember that many individuals with these risk factors never get GI cancer, and many others do not have identified risk factors. Further study is required to completely comprehend the underlying mechanisms involved in causing these tumours because not all causes of GI cancer are understood.

Types of gastrointestinal cancer

There are several types of gastrointestinal cancers that Dr Singh treats, and these include:

• Anal cancer Anus, or the entrance at the end of the digestive system, is where the tissues of the anus are affected by anal cancer.
• Bile duct cancer The bile ducts, tubes that deliver bile from the liver to the small intestine, are affected by bile duct cancer, also known as cholangiocarcinoma.
• Colon cancer The large intestine (colon) and rectum are both affected by the cancerous condition known as colon cancer. It is the third most prevalent cancer in the world.
• Gallbladder cancer The gallbladder, a little organ below the liver that stores and secretes bile into the small intestine, is prone to a rare malignancy called gallbladder cancer.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumours A kind of cancer known as gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) affects the GI tract, which includes the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, and rectum. GISTs, categorised as soft tissue sarcoma, arise from cells called interstitial cells of Cajal in the GI tract's wall.
• Liver cancer Hepatic cancer, commonly referred to as liver cancer, is a form of cancer that originates in the liver. Liver cancer is classified as either primary or secondary based on whether it starts in the liver or spreads from another area of the body.
• Oesophageal cancer The oesophagus, a muscular tube that transports food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach, is affected by oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer comes in two primary forms: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma starts in the cells lining the upper section of the oesophagus, whereas adenocarcinoma starts in the cells that produce and secrete mucus in the lower region of the oesophagus.
• Pancreatic cancer The pancreas is an organ in the abdomen that generates hormones that control blood sugar levels and digestive enzymes. Pancreatic cancer refers to a specific type of cancer that impacts the pancreas.
• Rectal cancer The rectum, or the final few inches of the big intestine closest to the anus, is where rectal cancer
• Small intestinal cancer The long, skinny tube that links the stomach to the large intestine is the site of a rare malignancy known as small intestinal cancer.
• Stomach (gastric) cancer The lining of the stomach is where stomach cancer, sometimes referred to as gastric cancer, first appears.