PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA — The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published new guidelines for patients facing small bowel adenocarcinoma. This rare cancer type occurs in the small intestine, an area where routine screening is not possible, even for high-risk individuals.
The NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma offer detailed information specifically for this cancer type, addressing a gap in patient resources. Typically, information on small bowel cancer lumps it together with other cancers of the small intestine, despite differing treatment approaches.
Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, highlighted the importance of this new resource. “People with rare diseases like small bowel cancer often have a difficult time finding trustworthy and thorough information,” Sapienza said. “This new guidance helps people with small bowel adenocarcinoma understand current treatment standards and know what questions to ask their doctor.”
Available for free download at NCCN.org, the guidelines are funded by the NCCN Foundation. They are derived from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines used by healthcare providers worldwide. These patient versions translate expert recommendations into layman’s terms, including helpful glossaries, illustrations, and suggested questions for doctors.
Dr. Katrina Pedersen of the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, who advocated for these guidelines, expressed her enthusiasm. “I’m excited to have information available for patients that has been vetted by experts. There’s not much out there for people with this disease, and everything helps,” Pedersen said. She hopes the guidelines will raise awareness and fill knowledge gaps about small bowel adenocarcinoma.
Key points from the guidelines include:
- Treatment for small bowel adenocarcinoma differs significantly from colon or rectal cancer.
- Surgery, including removal of nearby lymph nodes, is the primary treatment for local (stage I–III) disease.
- Most metastatic patients are treated with systemic therapy.
- The role of immunotherapy is emphasized for patients with specific genomic profiles.
- Small bowel adenocarcinoma is more common in individuals with Lynch syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
The release of these guidelines marks a significant step in providing targeted, reliable information to patients battling this rare form of cancer. It empowers them and their caregivers with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their care.
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