Symptoms of small bowel cancer
What are the symptoms of small bowel cancer?
The main symptoms of small bowel cancer (also called small intestine cancer) include:
- cramping pain in the tummy (abdominal pain)
- weight loss for no obvious reason
- feeling sick (nausea) and being sick (vomiting)
- dark or black poo (stools) caused by bleeding from the tumour
- tiredness caused by a low number of red blood cells (anaemia) due to blood loss
- diarrhoea.
These symptoms can be caused by conditions other than small bowel cancer. But you should always ask your GP to check any symptoms you are worried about.
Related pages
What are the symptoms of a blocked bowel?
Sometimes the cancer can cause a blockage (obstruction) in the bowel. This may be a complete or partial blockage. The symptoms of this are:
- vomiting
- constipation
- pain in the tummy
- bloating.
Rarely, a blockage in the small bowel can cause the bowel to tear. This is a serious condition that usually happens suddenly. It needs to be treated with surgery. The symptoms include:
- severe pain
- feeling faint or dizzy
- abdominal swelling.
If you have any of these symptoms, you should go to your nearest accident and emergency department (A&E).
Getting support
We understand that showing any symptoms of what could be cancer is worrying. The most important thing is to speak to your GP as soon as possible. We're also here if you need someone to talk to. You can:
- call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00
- chat to our specialists online
- visit our bowel (colon and rectal) cancer forum to talk to people who have been affected by bowel cancer, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions
- visit our duodenal cancer forum to talk to people who have been affected by cancer of any part of the small bowel, or small intestine.
About our information
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer.
-
References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our small bowel cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at informationproductionteam@macmillan.org.uk
AB Benson, AP Venook, MM Al-Hawary et al. Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma, Version 1.2020, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 17(9), 1109-1133. Available from: www.jnccn.org [accessed January 2023].
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Wireless capsule endoscopy for investigation of the small bowel. Published: 15 December 2004. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg101 [accessed January 2023].
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.
The language we use
We want everyone affected by cancer to feel our information is written for them.
We want our information to be as clear as possible. To do this, we try to:
- use plain English
- explain medical words
- use short sentences
- use illustrations to explain text
- structure the information clearly
- make sure important points are clear.
We use gender-inclusive language and talk to our readers as ‘you’ so that everyone feels included. Where clinically necessary we use the terms ‘men’ and ‘women’ or ‘male’ and ‘female’. For example, we do so when talking about parts of the body or mentioning statistics or research about who is affected.
You can read more about how we produce our information here.
How we can help