Gastrointestinal Cancer
Cancers can arise anywhere in the GI tract, they occur most often in the stomach (60% to 70%) and less commonly in the small intestine (20% to 30%). The rest are found in the esophagus, large intestine, rectum, and anus according to the American Cancer Society.
Gastrointestinal Tract
Gastrointestinal Tumors
There are over 225,000 new GI tumors diagnosed in the U.S. These would include cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon/rectum, anus, and the pancreas. These tumors frequently require a multi-modality approach towards treatment including a combination of radiation therapy, surgery, and chemotherapy. Treatment times for radiation generally last 5-6 weeks and can be done either before or after surgery. Chemotherapy is often given with radiation therapy to enhance tumor cell sensitization. However, chemotherapy also adds risks by increasing the potential side effects and toxicity of treatment. It is therefore very important that our experience staff follow patients closely to prevent severe dehydration, anemia, or other side effects while undergoing treatment.
