Gastrointestinal Cancers – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the Gastrointestinal Cancers?
Gastrointestinal cancers include cancers of the food pipe(esophagus), stomach, small and large intestine, liver, pancreas and gall bladder.
What are the risk factors for developing gastrointestinal cancers?
The risk of gastrointestinal cancer can be reduced by avoiding alcohol and tobacco in any form, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and eating a diet with lots of fibre and antioxidants, such as fruits and vegetables. Regular health check-ups and screening may help detect the cancer early.
How are gastrointestinal cancers present?
Cancer of different organs is present differently and variedly. The problem with these cancers is that they do not give significant symptoms when they are at an early stage; when they produce significant symptoms, they are at a very late stage where a cure may not be possible. The trick is to be aware of the warning signs of gastrointestinal cancers. Early-stage cancers give some warning signs, and if we perceive these warning signs, then there is a need to consult the doctor for evaluation and confirmation of the diagnosis.
Warning Signs
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of significant weight
- Blood or mucus in stool
- Jaundice
- Drop in hemoglobin
- Difficulty swallowing food
How does a doctor confirm the diagnosis?
A doctor may advise some tests based on symptoms, like blood reports, sonography of the abdomen, CT scan or MRI, endoscopy, etc. These reports help to make the correct diagnosis, and based on that, a further plan is decided. Many patients’ relatives ask for PET CT scans; there is no need to do PET CT in every cancer. There are specific cancers and situations where PET CT has a role, and it should not be done in every case.
What are treatments for GI cancers?
Different cancers have different treatment patterns. Usually, surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy are used in various combinations and sequences to treat GI cancers based on the stage of the disease when it is diagnosed. In general, surgery is the only curative treatment option whenever it is feasible. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are complementary to surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.
Surgery can be done when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, and detecting the warning signs and early diagnosis is of paramount importance when surgery is not possible due to advanced disease.
What is open surgery, and what is laparoscopic–robotic surgery?
Open surgery is done using a big cut over the abdomen to go inside the abdomen, while laparoscopic and robotic surgeries are keyhole surgeries. In these surgeries, a few, usually 3 or 4 cuts of 5 to 10 mm size, are kept on the abdomen. Through one of the holes, a camera goes inside, which is connected to a big screen. It gives an inside view on a big screen. Working instruments go inside the abdomen through other holes, through which surgery is done, looking at the screen.
Robotic surgery is actually a robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. In this surgery, the surgeon sits on the console, aware of the patient, and performs surgery on the console, while the robot standing near the patient imitates the surgery on the patient. The robot does not perform surgery on its own. There are a few specific areas and situations, like prostate cancer, where robotic surgery has some advantage over laparoscopic surgery.
What is comprehensive cancer care?
In today’s era, gastrointestinal cancer treatment is not an individual’s job; it needs a team of doctors and teamwork. It needs a good radiologist who does a good quality CT scan or MRI and gives details about the disease. It needs a dedicated surgeon to interpret the C scan and discuss it with the radiologist. Chemotherapy specialist and radiation specialist to discuss the case and decide on the perfect plan and execute it. It may need an edoscopist for endoscopy and biopsy if required. It needs an expert ICU doctor to manage the patient after surgery as usually patients stay in ICU after major surgery for 24 hours for observation.
Citations
Gastrointestinal Cancers: An Interdisciplinary Approach (Book) – Nima Rezaei
The Rise of Gastrointestinal Cancers as a Global Phenomenon: Unhealthy Behavior or Progress? – Editors: Vincenza Gianfredi, Daniele Nucci
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