Institute of Gastroenterology

Gastro-oncology is a branch of which deals with gastrointestinal cancers e.g.
Cancer of Food pipe, Stomach Cancer, Colon Cancer, Liver Cancer, Bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer.

In addition Cancers of other organs of the body may spread to GI organs like liver and cause symptoms.
Cancer Treatment in the form of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy may it self cause important side effects in the GI tract.

All these patients are treated in Gastro Oncology department.

Gastrointestinal Cancers Treated at Action Cancer Hospital

Gastrointestinal cancers are of different types depending on the part of the GI system involved. Our experienced team specialises in treating the following GI cancers:

• Oesophageal cancer: Oesophageal cancer is a cancer of the food pipe, oesophagus or gullet. It happens when the cancerous cells in the oesophagal tissue begin to multiply, forming a tumour.
• Stomach cancer: Stomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is an abnormal growth of cells that starts in the stomach and grows slowly. Cancer can form anywhere in the stomach but mostly begins in the glandular tissue on the inner surface of the stomach, commonly known as an adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastric cancer. Some rare kinds of stomach cancer are neuroendocrine tumours, lymphomas, small cell carcinomas, and gastrointestinal stromal tumours. 
• Liver cancer: Liver cancer occurs in the liver, which performs several vital functions, such as removing waste, absorption of nutrients, and wound healing. When cancer develops in the liver, it kills liver cells and impedes the ability of the liver to function.
• Pancreatic cancer: Pancreatic cancer affects the pancreas, an organ responsible for producing insulin and digestion by producing other enzymes that digest proteins, carbs and fats. Insulin helps regulate blood glucose levels. Given that the pancreas is located behind the stomach detecting its cancer is difficult.

Gastrointestinal Tests for Cancer Diagnosis
Diagnosing and treating cancers in their early stages has better outcomes than when treated at later stages. For this, using the latest technology combined with regular examinations is essential. Hence, we at Action Cancer Hospital use advanced tests to diagnose these cancers accurately. Some of the common GI tests we do include:

• Endoscopy: Endoscopy is of two types - upper GI and lower GI. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) or upper endoscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Colonoscopy, on the other hand, concentrates on the colon and rectum. Endoscopy can act as both a diagnostic tool and a treatment equipment because small tumours can be completely excised at the time of endoscopy. 
• Image enhanced endoscopy: Early cancer’s of the GI tract can be detected using specialised technology. NBI examination can detect early tumours of esophagus, stomach and colon. Early detection can lead to complete cure.
• Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS): This helps in not only diagnosing GI cancers but we can also take samples for FNAC and biopsy from abdominal masses for making a conclusive diagnosis of cancer. It also helps in staging the cancer and characterising it for proper treatment.
• Imaging Tests: Imaging techniques such as barium X-rays, MRI scans, CT scans, and PET scans give detailed pictures of the GI tract, making it easy to diagnose cancer.
• Blood Tests: Blood tests are the most common diagnostic tool for diagnosing almost all kinds of diseases. Even for detecting cancer, blood tests are a reliable tool.

Treatment Options for Gastrointestinal Cancers
At Action Cancer Hospital, a team of specialists, including gastroenterologists, oncologists, surgeons, radiation therapists, and others, creates personalised treatment plans for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

• Endoscopic therapies: Newer techniques like ESD, EMR are now being used for managing early GI cancers thereby avoiding surgery.
• Endoscopic therapy is also an excellent tool to palliate many troublesome symptoms caused by advanced GI tumours. Endoscopic stent placement is the treatment of choice for palliation of dysphagia, jaundice, Stomach and intestinal blockage.
• Surgery: The primary treatment for GI cancers, those which can not be treated by endoscopy is, surgery. Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery or conventional surgeries may be advised to treat GI tumours.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is advised for most forms of cancer. It involves administering target-specific drugs, which directly target the DNA of cancer cells and stop their growth. 
• Radiation therapy: This targeted treatment uses high-energy X-rays or other types of radiation beams. These rays shrink tumours and kill cancer cells. SBRT is the new form of targeted radiotherapy in which targeted killing of cancer cells is done with great precision without any collateral damage.
• Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are newer treatment options that focus on specific cancer cells or help the body's immune system fight cancer. Targeted therapies focus on the receptors present on the membrane of cancer cells, while immunotherapy helps the body's immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.