Gastrointestinal Tumor Program

The Gastrointestinal Malignancies include the entire alimentary tract: esophagus, stomach, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, small intestine, colon, rectum, and anus. Colorectal cancer is the most common of these representing the third most common cancer diagnosis in the United States.

Comprehensive services include counseling those with high risk family histories of colon cancer and screening for some genetically inheritable cancer syndromes. Specific recommendations for cancer prevention can vary depending on the risk involved and must be individualized. Prevention is the most important factor including keeping up with routine health maintenance, updating your primary care physician on your family history, and completing recommended screening colonoscopies. These can save lives.

A new colorectal cancer diagnosis can easily become an overwhelming situation. We recognize this and strive to “walk you through” the steps involved to implement your care plan. Detailed counseling is recommended to navigate the stage of colorectal cancer, newer prognostic tools and information to inform the decision on an optimal care strategy. This involves a multidisciplinary team of local and tertiary based surgeons as well as radiation oncologists.

Newer so-called “targeted” therapies differ from more traditional therapies by targeting a number of specific cell products. These are used often in combination with traditional therapies. In metastatic colorectal cancers newer approaches are extending lives and promoting quality of life with the best supportive care along the way. Therapy decision-making in this setting we emphasize be particularly tailored to that which is “the right choice” for you as a person.