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Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment In Pune
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract includes all the parts of our digestive system and its associated organs, including the esophagus, pancreas, stomach, colon, rectum, anus, liver, biliary system, and small intestine. Hence, GI cancers include abnormal cell growth over any of these parts.
Typically, the cells of these organs continually get damaged or die and are replaced with healthy cells. However, if these dead cells continue to multiply limitlessly, they create clusters of lumpy tumors over the affected organ. When not diagnosed in time, these tumors metastasize, i.e., spread across the adjacent organs, affecting the entire digestive system.
Common Types Of GI Cancers:
Colon and Rectal (Colorectal) Cancer: It develops anywhere throughout the colon (large intestine) or the rectum.
Esophageal Cancer: This is cancer that occurs in the esophagus, which is the hollow tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
Stomach Cancer: Also known as ‘gastric cancer’ in the stomach, or ‘adenocarcinomas’ if it develops from the stomach’s inner lining cells.
Pancreatic Cancer: Cancer that begins in the enzyme-producing pancreas.
Liver Cancer: It is the tumor that develops from the liver cells.
Other less common types include:
- Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST)
- Gallbladder & Biliary Tract Cancer
- Anal Cancer
- Small Intestine Cancer
Symptoms Of GI Cancers:
Most GI cancers do not show any significant signs until the tumor grows big enough. Also, the symptoms can vary depending on the organs affected. Following are some of these common symptoms:
- Esophageal cancer usually causes difficulty in swallowing food
- Gastric cancer is known to cause indigestion, loss of appetite, bloating, and pain.
- Liver and pancreatic cancers can cause severe abdominal pain
- Colorectal cancer causes anal bleeding and changes in bowel function.
Diagnosis Of GI Cancers:
At Deccan Clinic, the diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancers can be performed with the following tests:
- Blood tests - looking for signs of cancer by studying blood components
- Imaging Tests - taking MRI scans, X-rays, ultrasound tests, CT scan or PET scan of the GI region
- Colonoscopy - checking the colon and rectum for polyps with an endoscope device
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) - checking the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine walls for tumors
- Biopsy - surgically extracting and analyzing tissues from the tumor
Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
Like any other cancer, GI cancers are also treated with targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy from the initial stages. However, if the tumor is apparent and easily removable, cancer surgery is the best option.
Our GI cancer surgeon in Pune, Dr. Vidhyachandra Gandhi, offers the most advanced laparoscopic surgeries to treat different GI cancers. These are minimally invasive surgeries that ensure minimal tissue damage and quick recovery.
Here, the surgeon makes one or more keyhole-size incisions over the organ to be treated and inserts a cannula to access the organ. A thin elongated tube with a camera at its tip, known as the endoscope, is inserted through the cannula along with special minimally invasive surgical tools. The tumor cells are removed, and the incisions are sealed with sutures.
Depending on the organ treated, the different types of laparoscopy surgeries he offers include:
- Lap Colectomy - performed to remove the colon partially or entirely
- Lap Cholecystectomy - performed to treat gallbladder cancer
- Lap Splenectomy - performed on the intestinal spleen
Dr. Gandhi has been practicing for 6 years and has performed several complex open and laparoscopic surgeries of the GI tract. You can consult him directly for more information on GI cancers and treatments.