Treatment Options for Gastrointestinal Cancer

As one of the nations leading cancer surgeons, Anton Bilchik MD discusses treatment options with all his patients fighting gastrointestinal cancer, a group of cancers affecting the digestive system. Gastrointestinal cancer includes cancers of the esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine, large intestine sometimes called the colon and rectum. !ach year, ".#. doctors diagnose $%&,&&& new cases of gastrointestinal cancer. Dr. Bilchik values early diagnosis and presents a wide variety of treatment options to provide the best possible outcome. #pecific treatment options depend largely on the location of the cancer and the degree to which it has spread to the lymph nodes and surrounding tissues. 'ancer doctors usually recommend a combination of three traditional cancer treatments( surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Surgery #urgery is a common treatment for many types of gastrointestinal cancer. )he intention is to remove rapidly reproducing cancer cells from spreading to nearby healthy tissue. )he surgeon may perform an esophagectomy to eliminate a cancerous growth on a patients esophagus or a partial gastrectomy to remove a section of stomach affected by cancer. *e or she may also remove potentially cancerous tissue or lymph nodes nearby. )he doctor may remove the entire organ or +ust a portion of it. ,f he or she removes an entire organ or a significant portion of it, they may also have to perform a bypass to allow the other organs to continue functioning. ,f the tumor is blocking a duct, the surgeon may insert a thin, fle-ible tube, known as a stent, to drain e-cess fluid. )he stent may lead to a catheter outside the body or it may lead fluids around the blockage. )he surgeon may use ultrasound technology to help him place the stent.

Chemotherapy 'hemotherapy uses potent drugs to kill cancer cells in the gastrointestinal tract. .atients may receive neoad+uvant chemotherapy before surgery to shrink tumors, making them easier for the surgeon to remove entirely. )he doctor may prescribe ad+uvant chemotherapy after surgery to

kill any remaining cancer cells. 'hemotherapy alone can help relieve signs and symptoms in people with advanced cases of some types of gastrointestinal cancers. #ometimes the doctor suggests chemotherapy in combination with radiation therapy to improve treatment outcome. )here are two types of chemotherapy( systemic and regional. ,n systemic chemotherapy, the patient takes the drug by mouth or through an in+ection in a vein or muscle. #ystemic chemotherapy delivers potent anti/cancer drugs throughout the entire body to reach cancer cells in the digestive tract and beyond. 0egional chemotherapy involves putting the drug directly into an organ in the gastrointestinal tract to affect only the digestive organs affected by cancer.

Radiation 0adiation therapy targets cancer cells with high/powered beams of energy, including -/rays. Dr. Bilchik may recommend neoad+uvant radiation to shrink a tumor before surgery and ad+uvant radiation after the operation to improve surgical outcomes. 0adiation therapy alone reduces discomfort for late/stage gastrointestinal cancer. )here are two types of radiation therapy. !-ternal radiation therapy employs a machine to deliver radioactive beams into the body. ,nternal radiation therapy utili1es a radioactive substance sealed inside a needle, seed, wire, or catheter that the physician then places directly into or near the cancer. Anton Bilchik MD is a leading cancer specialist. ".#. 2ews and 3orld 0eport named Dr. Bilchik as one of the top 4 percent of physicians in the nation. *e has also been recogni1ed as one of Americas top surgeons for ten consecutive years. .rofessor of #urgery, 'hief of Medicine at the 5ohn 3ayne 'ancer and founder of the 'alifornia 6ncology 0esearch ,nstitute 7'60,8, Anton Bilchik is at the forefront of cancer care in the "nited #tates, leading the nation closer to a cure. )o learn more visit http(99www.antonbilchikmd.com.