Cancer Gastric Cancer Gastrointestinal Cancer Causes and Symptoms By Lisa Fayed Lisa Fayed is a freelance medical writer, cancer educator and patient advocate. Learn about our editorial process Lisa Fayed Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on December 01, 2019 Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on January 27, 2020 Print Gastrointestinal cancer is a term that encompasses a group of cancers that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Types of gastrointestinal cancer include: Esophageal cancerStomach cancerGallbladder cancerGastrointestinal stromal tumorsLiver cancerPancreatic cancerColon cancerRectal cancerAnal cancer Universal Images Group / Getty Images Causes and Risk Factors We don't know the cause of many types of gastrointestinal cancer, but risk factors for gastrointestinal cancer vary among the different types. They include: SmokingExcessive alcohol consumptionIncreasing ageDiet high in animal fatDiet containing high amounts of salted, cured, or poorly preserved foodsChronic pancreatitisObesity Please note that there are many other risk factors that are disease-specific that are not listed. Symptoms Symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer vary, depending on the type of cancer. Symptoms may include: Abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfortChange in bowel habits, such as frequency or consistency or shapeRectal bleeding or blood in stoolBloatingLoss of appetiteNausea/vomitingUnintentional weight lossFatigue These are common symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer, but there are more symptoms that relate specifically to each type. Diagnosis How gastrointestinal cancer is diagnosed depends on what type of cancer is suspected. Lab tests, imaging tests, biopsies, and endoscopy are all methods of diagnosing many types of cancer. Once cancer is confirmed, the stage of the cancer is then determined and a treatment plan is developed. Treatment Treatment for gastrointestinal cancer depends on the type of cancer, stage, and other general health factors. Common methods of treating gastrointestinal cancer include surgery (most commonly used) chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Prevention Each type of GI cancer has its own risk factors that we may be able to avoid, reducing the likelihood of developing cancer. Because some types of gastrointestinal have common risk factors, there are some general lifestyle changes we can make to reduce our risk. Since we know that tobacco is linked to some types of gastrointestinal cancer, avoiding both is one of our best prevention defenses. The health benefits of not smoking are numerous and are not limited to preventing gastrointestinal cancer. By avoiding smoking, you drastically reduce your risk of many other types of cancer and other diseases. Colon cancer screening is beneficial at detecting precancerous changes in the large intestine and rectum. For adults who are at average risk of colon and rectal cancer, it is recommended to begin screening at age 50. Adults who are classified at higher risk may begin screening earlier at the recommendation of their doctor. Remember that even if you are not experiencing symptoms of colon or rectal cancer, you should always follow your doctor's screening recommendations. Lastly, eating a well-balanced diet is advantageous for many reasons. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, low in animal fats, with a low sodium intake, may reduce your risk of some types of gastrointestinal cancer. Plus, eating a well-balanced diet can reduce obesity, a risk factor for many types of cancer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Limiting processed foods and red meats can help ward off cancer risk. These recipes focus on antioxidant-rich foods to better protect you and your loved ones. Sign up and get your guide! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nomura AM, Wilkens LR, Henderson BE, Epplein M, Kolonel LN. The association of cigarette smoking with gastric cancer: the multiethnic cohort study. Cancer Causes Control. 2012;23(1):51-8. doi:10.1007/s10552-011-9854-0 Donohoe CL, O'farrell NJ, Doyle SL, Reynolds JV. The role of obesity in gastrointestinal cancer: evidence and opinion. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2014;7(1):38-50. doi:10.1177/1756283X13501786 Zali H, Rezaei-tavirani M, Azodi M. Gastric cancer: prevention, risk factors and treatment. Gastroenterol Hepatol Bed Bench. 2011;4(4):175-85. Toll BA, Rojewski AM, Duncan LR, et al. "Quitting smoking will benefit your health": the evolution of clinician messaging to encourage tobacco cessation. Clin Cancer Res. 2014;20(2):301-9. doi:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-13-2261 Wolf AMD, Fontham ETH, Church TR, et al. Colorectal cancer screening for average-risk adults: 2018 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018;68(4):250-281. doi:10.3322/caac.21457