Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Care
Expert diagnosis and treatment for digestive system cancers
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World-Class GI Cancer Doctors
If you’ve been diagnosed with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, the team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is here for you. Our GI Cancer Program brings together experts who specialize in diagnosing and treating all types of GI cancers, including those of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon and rectum.
We provide comprehensive, compassionate care — from your first consultation or second opinion to long-term follow-up. Our team also partners closely with your primary care doctor to make sure your care is coordinated and seamless. You’ll also have access to leading-edge clinical trials and our Virtual Clinical Trial Consult service, which can help you explore whether a trial is right for you.
What is Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer?
GI cancer begins in the digestive tract. Our specialists treat all types of GI cancers, including these and others:
- Anal cancer
- Cancer of the small intestine
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
Our surgeons have expertise in open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery to treat GI cancer and can help decide what would be best for each individual patient.
GI Cancer Screening & Diagnosis
Our digestive cancer specialists use the latest screening and diagnostic tools to quickly and accurately diagnose GI cancers. Depending on your symptoms and health situation, you may need some combination of these digestive diagnostic tests:
- Imaging studies such as CT scan
- Specialized tools to diagnose and treat abnormal cells to prevent anal cancer
In some cases, your doctor may recommend colon cancer genetic testing to help you and your family members better understand their genetic risk.
Treatments We Offer
We offer personalized treatment and access to the most advanced treatments for GI cancer:
- Surgical resection: Our surgical oncologists remove the cancerous areas of an organ or body structure
- Chemoembolization: Minimally invasive procedure in which the blood vessel feeding a tumor is blocked with delivery of chemotherapy drug
- Cryoablation: Killing cancerous tissue using extreme cold
- Investigational agents: Using new techniques or chemotherapies to destroy cancer
- Radiation therapy: Using radiation to kill cancerous cells or a solid tumor
- Ablation: Using electromagnetic energy the tumor is heated and the cancer cells are destroyed
Treatment at the Dysplasia Center
Our dedicated Dysplasia Center provides advanced diagnosis and treatment for cancers of the anus and lower genitals, which includes the vagina, vulva and lower cervix.
More About Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Care
You may qualify for one of our many clinical trials. These research studies are designed so we can find better treatments for you and other cancer patients. Our involvement in research shows our commitment to bringing you the latest and most effective treatment options.
Virtual Clinical Trial Consult
If you’ve been diagnosed with a GI cancer and want to learn more about clinical trials, consider a virtual clinical trial consult. During this call, we’ll educate you about clinical trials and provide the most up-to-date, accurate information about current research studies.
We also provide supportive care to help you manage symptoms of cancer and side effects of cancer treatments. We offer ongoing survivorship services during and after treatment, as well heart health care for people who’ve had cancer.
GI cancers often require multiple treatment modalities to obtain the best oncologic outcomes. Your GI cancer care team includes experts from many areas. You’ll see your various specialists in a multispecialty clinic. This provides you with the easiest access to a variety of medical specialists and the widest care options.
Depending on your needs, your team may include these and other specialists:
- Surgeons
- Medical oncologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Liver specialists
- Radiologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Pancreas specialists
- Pathologists
- Genetic counselors
- Nurse practitioners
- Nutritionists
- Registered nurses
- Social workers
Cancer Programs
Our oncologists offer effective cancer services including treatment options for all types of cancer and stages of cancer.
Advancing Care, Research & Education
Cancer Center
The Cancer Center is renowned for exceptional cancer care and for pioneering discoveries in cancer treatment.
Cancer Research Institute
The Cancer Research Institute is an interdisciplinary center focused on understanding cancer with the goal of curing it.
Cancer Education & Training
The Cancer Center offers comprehensive education and training opportunities for residents, fellows and researchers.
