Gastrointestinal cancer

The digestive tract is made up of several organs involved in the process of digesting food and eliminating waste from the body. These organs include the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus. When cancer affects any one of these organs, it is considered GI cancer.

All of these cancers are diagnosed and treated differently. You may be diagnosed by a gastroenterologist, a physician specializing in gastroenterological care. This doctor, among others, will be part of an integrated team collaborating to develop the best plan of care for you.

Our doctors provide advanced cancer screening services to detect cancer earlier and get you treated sooner. Some of our screening services include:

• Blood tests
• Colonoscopy
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Endoscopy
• Endoscopic ultrasounds
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Molecular or genetic testing
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• X-ray

It is important to remember that there are many different types of GI malignancies, and the screening and diagnostic process for each can vary greatly.

Typically, doctors diagnose these cancers when your symptoms lead to a hospital visit. Based on the displayed symptoms, your doctor will order tests to confirm an initial diagnosis. Additional tests to confirm the presence, stage or spread of the cancer may include:

• Barium enema
• Biopsy
• CT/PET scan
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
• Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration biopsy
• Fecal occult blood test
• Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP)
• Sigmoidoscopy

A physical exam, combined with all of your test results, will help determine the type and stage of your cancer. Determining the stage of your cancer helps your doctor form your treatment plan.

The type of treatment you receive is dependent on the characteristics of your cancer, evidence-based guidelines, your age, your general health and your diagnosis.

Because these specific cancers can be complex, our multidisciplinary care team meets monthly to review each case of colon, rectal, esophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancer. These meetings are designed to provide care that goes beyond diagnosis and treatment.

Your treatment plan may include a combination of approaches, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, oral medication or surgery.

As part of our comprehensive oncology program, our cancer care team uses a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. We bring together many specialists to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plan.

Our team members include:

• Gastroenterologists
• GI cancer nurse navigator
• General surgeons
• Medical oncologists
• Oncology dietitians
• Pathologists
• Radiation oncologists
• Radiologists

GI cancer nurse navigator

If you require further testing, biopsy, surgery or treatments, our dedicated GI cancer nurse navigator will be with you to support you on your cancer journey. Our nurse navigator will work closely with you and your doctors so you will know and understand all of your options and receive the treatment, care, education and support you need.

We provide services and tests related to the diagnosis and treatment of rectal and colon cancers, commonly referred to as colorectal cancer. Our cancer specialists offer comprehensive treatment plans to ensure you receive individualized care that is right for you.

We also offer an advanced, minimally invasive procedure called Y90 radioembolization. This procedure is used to treat tumors that began in the liver or have spread to the liver from another part of the body. The procedure involves delivering a high dose of radiation directly to the liver while sparing normal, healthy tissue.

HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network delivers you exceptional cancer care through cutting-edge, specialized treatments, multidisciplinary collaboration and care that is tailored to you. Our teams of passionate caregivers and global oncology experts across the United States and United Kingdom offer services and expertise that extend across many types of cancer. Together with the full support of HCA Healthcare – a leading provider of cancer care and research – we’re with you and your family from diagnosis through survivorship.

Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (804) 591-4152.