Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are a group of diseases that affect the digestive system. These cancers can develop in various parts of the GI tract, including the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, colon, and rectum. At Apollo Institute of Gastroenterology, we specialise in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of these complex conditions.

Types of Gastrointestinal Cancers
Some of the most common types of GI cancers include:

• Esophageal Cancer
• Stomach (Gastric) Cancer
• Colorectal Cancer
• Pancreatic Cancer
• Liver Cancer
• Small Intestine Cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment depends on the type and location of the cancer, as well as the patient's goals. Treatment options include: 
 

• Surgery: Complete removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue. The type of surgery depends on the cancer's location. 
• Chemotherapy: Drugs that destroy cancer cells by stopping them from growing and dividing. 
• Radiation therapy: Used to shrink tumors or kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery. 
• Targeted therapy: Drugs that target specific genes, proteins, or tissue environments that contribute to cancer growth. 
• Immunotherapy: Drugs that suppress or stimulate the immune system to help fight cancer. 
• Neoadjuvant therapy: Medical treatments given before surgery to shrink the tumor or make surgery safer and more effective. 
• Adjuvant therapy: Medical treatments given after surgery to lower the risk of the cancer coming back. 
• Anastomosis: A procedure to connect healthy portions of the esophagus or stomach to restore function. 
• Liver transplantation: An option for some liver cancer patients. 

For very advanced cases, doctors may focus on symptom relief rather than curing the disease. 

Read more [ link to Oncology]

Some surgical treatments for Gastrointestinal cancers 

1. Gastrectomy (stomach removal)
 Gastrectomy involves removing all or part of the stomach. Under general anesthesia, the surgeon accesses the stomach either through a large abdominal incision (open surgery) or several small incisions (laparoscopic approach). In a total gastrectomy, the entire stomach is removed along with nearby lymph nodes. In a partial gastrectomy, only a portion of the stomach is removed. The digestive tract is then reconstructed by connecting the esophagus directly to the small intestine (in total gastrectomy) or reattaching the remaining stomach to the small intestine (in partial gastrectomy).

Why is it done?
Gastrectomy is performed to:

• Treat stomach cancer
• Remove precancerous lesions
• Prevent cancer in individuals with high genetic risk
• Alleviate symptoms in advanced cases

Benefits

• Can be curative for some stages of stomach cancer
• Prevents cancer development in high-risk individuals
• Provides relief from symptoms in advanced cases
• Allows for accurate staging and tailored follow-up treatment

2. Colectomy for Colon Cancer
Colectomy involves removing all or part of the colon. The surgeon makes incisions in the abdomen, either through open surgery or laparoscopically. The section of the colon containing the cancer is removed, along with a margin of healthy tissue and nearby lymph nodes. The healthy ends of the colon are then reconnected (anastomosis). In some cases, a temporary or permanent colostomy may be necessary, where the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall.

Why is it done?
Colectomy is performed to:

• Remove colon cancer
• Prevent cancer spread
• Relieve symptoms in advanced cases
• Obtain tissue for accurate diagnosis and staging

Benefits

• Can be curative for early-stage colon cancer
• Provides accurate staging information
• May prevent complications like bowel obstruction
• Improves quality of life by alleviating symptoms
• Allows for tailored adjuvant therapy based on pathology results

3. Pancreatic Surgery: Whipple’s procedure 
Pancreatic surgery varies depending on the location and extent of the cancer. The most common procedure is the Whipple procedure (pancreaticoduodenectomy), which involves removing the head of the pancreas, part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and sometimes part of the stomach. Other procedures include distal pancreatectomy (removing the body and tail of the pancreas) and total pancreatectomy (removing the entire pancreas). The surgeon then reconstructs the digestive tract to restore function.

Why is it done?
Pancreatic surgery is performed to:

• Remove pancreatic cancer
• Treat precancerous lesions
• Relieve symptoms in advanced cases
• Obtain tissue for accurate diagnosis and staging

Benefits

• Can be curative for early-stage pancreatic cancer
• May significantly extend survival in more advanced cases
• Provides relief from symptoms like jaundice and pain
• Allows for accurate staging and tailored follow-up treatment
• Improves quality of life in many cases

4. Liver Resection
Liver resection involves surgically removing the part of the liver containing cancer. The surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen to access the liver. Using advanced imaging guidance, the tumour is located and carefully removed along with a margin of healthy liver tissue. The amount of liver removed depends on the size and location of the tumour. In some cases, the surgery may be done laparoscopically. After removal, the remaining liver is checked for any signs of cancer spread.

Why is it done?
Liver cancer resection is performed to:

• Remove primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Remove metastatic tumours that have spread to the liver from other organs
• Provide relief from symptoms in advanced cases
• Obtain tissue for accurate diagnosis and staging

Benefits

• Can be curative for early-stage liver cancer
• May extend survival in more advanced cases
• Improves quality of life by relieving symptoms
• Allows for accurate staging and tailored follow-up treatment
• Provides an opportunity for the liver to regenerate healthy tissue