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What is Gastrointestinal Cancer?
Gastrointestinal cancer is often referred to as “GI” or stomach cancer, encompassing cancers found anywhere in a person’s gastrointestinal tract, including the liver, pancreas, colon, rectum or gallbladder. Receiving a diagnosis of GI cancer can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. It’s important to remember that you’re not alone, and there are many resources to help you navigate this journey. Our experts at SCRI Oncology Partners provide a supportive and thorough care journey to help empower you and provide a sense of control during a challenging time, helping to ease some of the burdens associated with diagnosis and treatment.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer?
As with any type of cancer, there are signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for that may be indicative of cancer in your gastrointestinal tract. A list of common symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Blackened stool
- Decreased appetite
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling full or bloated, particularly after eating
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sudden weight loss
- Tiredness/fatigue
Though some of these symptoms can be commonly found in a person that is healthy, it’s important to make note if one or more of these symptoms are recurring and impacting your quality of life. Reach out to your physician and schedule an appointment if you feel one or more of these symptoms may be affecting you more often than normal.
Risk Factors
Staging
Treatment
Clinical Trials
How is gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed?
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned, it’s understandable to feel concerned. While these symptoms can sometimes be associated with cancer, they do not definitively indicate the presence of the disease. The only way to know for sure is through medical testing.
Testing for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer can involve several different procedures, depending on your specific situation. These may include an endoscopy, where a thin tube is gently guided down your throat, a colonoscopy, which involves a similar tube being inserted into your backend, and possibly a biopsy, which can be performed during either of these procedures.
Other tests might include ultrasounds, CT scans (which provide detailed images of your body using X-rays) and stool or blood tests. It’s important to work closely with a trusted healthcare professional who can recommend the most appropriate tests for you, ensuring that you receive the care and answers you need.
Risk factors for gastrointestinal cancer
There are a number of factors that cause a person to be at an increased risk for being diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancer at some point in their life. Some of these include age, sex, ethnicity, diet, weight, alcohol/tobacco use, a family history of stomach cancer and more. Generally, the average diagnosis is found in a biological male, over the age of 60, that is overweight/eats mostly processed foods and is a moderate-to-heavy user of alcohol and/or tobacco. Ethnicity can also play a factor, as gastrointestinal cancer diagnoses are more commonly found in Hispanic Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders than in non-Hispanic or White people here in the United States. While many people that fit several of these markers never receive a cancer diagnosis, it is important to acknowledge reasons that you may be at an increased risk so that precautions can be taken to minimize the likelihood of a cancer forming or spreading.
Staging
Cancer staging is a crucial step in understanding the journey you’re on, as it helps determine how far the cancer has developed, including the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. This process can provide important information that guides your treatment plan.
Generally, the stage of cancer can be categorized into the following stages:
Stage 0
Stage 0
Also known as pre-cancerous or “in-situ”, refers to cells that appear abnormal and are not currently cancerous; however they have the potential to become cancerous in the future.
Stage II
Stage II
A larger cancer that despite being contained in the original location, is beginning to grow and may soon have the capacity to spread elsewhere.
Stage IV
Stage IV
A cancer that has fully grown, or metastasized, to other organs and areas throughout the body.
Stage I
Stage 1
A small, largely isolated cancer that is contained to the organ or area it was originally found.
Stage III
Stage III
A cancer that has continued to grow and is now starting to spread to nearby areas of the body, such as surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.
Stage 0
Stage 0
Also known as pre-cancerous or “in-situ”, refers to cells that appear abnormal and are not currently cancerous; however they have the potential to become cancerous in the future.
Stage I
Stage 1
A small, largely isolated cancer that is contained to the organ or area it was originally found.
Stage II
Stage II
A larger cancer that despite being contained in the original location, is beginning to grow and may soon have the capacity to spread elsewhere.
Stage III
Stage III
A cancer that has continued to grow and is now starting to spread to nearby areas of the body, such as surrounding tissues and lymph nodes.
Stage IV
Stage IV
A cancer that has fully grown, or metastasized, to other organs and areas throughout the body.
How can gastrointestinal cancer be treated?
Once the type and stage of your cancer have been determined, you and your healthcare professional can work together to design a personalized treatment plan that best meets your health needs. This plan will include the latest cancer treatments tailored specifically for you.
For gastrointestinal cancer, treatment often involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other therapies. Surgery might be necessary to remove small parts or entire sections of your GI tract to eliminate the cancerous area and prevent it from spreading. After surgery, if needed, chemotherapy and radiation can help target any remaining cancer cells in nearby areas. Additionally, treatments like targeted therapy and immunotherapy are available and can be considered if further intervention is necessary.
Finding an oncologist who can create a personalized treatment plan for you is crucial on your path to recovery. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
Gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials
Today’s clinical trials are tomorrow’s treatment options. A clinical trial can help determine if a treatment, drug or procedure shows a better way of treating a particular cancer or condition. At SCRI Oncology Partners we are committed to offering the latest clinical trials to improve your outcomes and ensure access to cutting-edge scientific advancements for our patients in the community.
If you are looking for a local oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee and are interested in participating in a clinical trial for gastrointestinal cancer through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research, the first step is to talk to our healthcare team.
Gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials
Today’s clinical trials are tomorrow’s treatment options. A clinical trial can help determine if a treatment, drug or procedure shows a better way of treating a particular cancer or condition. At SCRI Oncology Partners we are committed to offering the latest clinical trials to improve your outcomes and ensure access to cutting-edge scientific advancements for our patients in the community.
If you are looking for a local oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee and are interested in participating in a clinical trial for gastrointestinal cancer through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research, the first step is to talk to our healthcare team.
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Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.