Ileum Cancer

If the end of the ileum has been removed, the intestines cannot absorb vitamin B12 or bile acids secreted by the liver that aid in digestion. This leads to malabsorption and causes loose stools. However, over the course of time (3-6 months), the bowel adapts to the change, and gradually, the consistency of stools normalizes.

The ileum helps to further digest food coming from the stomach and other parts of the small intestine.

It is possible to survive without the ileum with appropriate postoperative care, nutritional therapy, and digestive aids.

Blood in stools or altered coloured stools may be a symptom of any gastrointestinal cancer, including Ileal cancer, and should not be ignored. Blood may give stools a red or black appearance.

Yes, it has an impact on the type of treatment. The major types of Ileal tumor include Adenocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), Sarcoma and Lymphoma.

• Lymphoma is primarily treated with chemotherapy, and surgery is generally done only in a few selected cases.
• Adenocarcinoma, GIST and Neuroendocrine tumors are treated primarily with surgery. However additional post-operative (adjuvant therapy) therapy differs based on the type of tumor. Adenocarcinoma requires chemotherapy, whereas GIST requires targeted therapy.