Introduction
Gastrointestinal cancer can affect any part of your digestive system, from the esophagus to the rectum, as well as organs like your liver. Unio Specialty Care specializes in using advanced radiation therapy technologies like intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) to optimize the results of gastrointestinal cancer treatment while minimizing harm to healthy tissues. Call today to find out more, or fill in the online form to schedule a consultation.
What is gastrointestinal cancer?
Gastrointestinal cancer is an umbrella term that includes all of the cancers that can develop in your digestive tract.
Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract starts at your mouth, where you chew food in preparation for digestion. The food then passes down your esophagus and into your stomach. The acids in your stomach break down the food, which then goes through your small intestine, large intestine (colon), and finally your rectum, ready to pass out of your body.
Along the way, organs like your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder extract nutrients and energy and break them down. Gastrointestinal cancer could affect any organ involved in digestion.
What kinds of gastrointestinal cancers are most common?
Esophageal cancer
Stomach cancer (gastric cancer)
Liver cancer
Pancreatic cancer
How is gastrointestinal cancer treated?
Various treatments are available for gastrointestinal cancer.
Ablation therapy uses radiofrequency waves, an injection of alcohol, or proton beam radiation to destroy the tumor. Chemotherapy and chemoembolization use drugs that kill growing cells, stopping the tumor from expanding or spreading, and sometimes shrinking it.
Surgery is one possible treatment. This approach usually works best if the cancer hasn’t metastasized. Combinations of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can also be beneficial in many cases.
Unio Specialty Care specializes in using advanced forms of radiation therapy, including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). The practice has the state-of-the-art Halcyon™ treatment system from Varian.
Which treatment is best for my gastrointestinal cancer?
The choice of treatment depends on factors like the type of cancer you have, how far it has advanced, and your age and general health. Unio Specialty Care goes through all of the options with you before developing a treatment plan.
Our experts also take an integrative approach to treatment, using evidence-based medicine but being open to alternative and complementary approaches when they can be helpful. We aim to educate and guide our patients so they can make their own choices about the treatments that are best for them.
Unio Specialty Care also helps you understand the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle in helping you to overcome your gastrointestinal cancer.