Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancer

There are several treatment options for gastrointestinal cancer. Though surgery remains the main stay of treatment for curative gastrointestinal cancers, it usually needs to be combined with systemic chemotherapy, Radiation therapy or immunotherapy.

Surgical Processes: Gastrointestinal cancers that have not yet spread to other parts (metastasised) can be treated using surgical processes. The malignant areas with a margin of healthy tissues are removed along with the lymph nodes. The range of surgical treatments available is:

Endoluminal Procedures: This process involves removing cancerous tissue by endoscopy or colonoscopy by advanced endoluminal procedures. These are only feasible in a small percentage of patients who present with very early-stage cancer in stomach or Colon

Open Surgery: This technique involves surgical removal of the tumour by using an open surgical incision. Open surgical approach is useful in case of very large tumours or unfit patient who is not a candidate for minimal access technique

Laparoscopic Cancer Surgery: This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves smaller incisions, thus resulting in much less pain and faster recovery. The oncological results have been found to be equal to that of open surgery with much less morbidity.

Robotic assisted surgery: Robotic Gastrointestinal onco-surgery is the latest advancement in the field of surgery. It adds precision to minimal access to surgery.

Radiation Therapy: This is a widely used process for treating gastrointestinal cancers, especially Esophagus and rectum. It involves using high-powered energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and inhibit their recurrence. The process uses high-intensity energy beams, such as protons and X-rays, to destroy cancerous cells. Radiation therapy can also be used before surgery (neoadjuvant radiation) to diminish the size of the tumour for easy removal. Additionally, it is used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that might have been left behind. Radiation therapy is usually combined with some form of chemotherapy and is called Chemoradiotherapy.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a drug-based treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. In chemotherapy, the drugs circulate throughout the body and kill cancer cells that may have spread to surrounding tissues and vital organs. Through the chemotherapy process, local recurrence of cancer cells can be prevented.

This process is used before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the size of the tumour for easy removal. Post-surgery chemotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy) is used to destroy the remaining cancer cells in the body.

Immunotherapy: It involves using medicines to build the body’s immunity or natural defence against developing cancer cells. By using specific drugs, the immune system is bolstered to address abnormalities or directed to kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy targets specific proteins, genes, and tissue environments responsible for the development of cancer.

Targeted drugs that a gastrointestinal oncology specialist may recommend include:

Herceptin

Cyramza

Gleevec

Sutent

Stivarga

The specialist may also recommend chemotherapy, immunotherapy or radiation therapy, along with surgery, depending on the digestive system's cancer symptoms and the type of gastrointestinal cancer. This multidisciplinary approach helps doctors treat any residual cancer cells comprehensively, inhibiting their further growth.

Early detection is the best way to ensure the success of gastrointestinal cancer treatment. So, as soon as any digestive system cancer symptoms are observed, it is critical to visit the gastrointestinal oncology department of the nearest hospital. Screening tests can detect GI cancer during its highly treatable early stages. At Narayana Health, our highly experienced and skilled gastrointestinal oncologists use state-of-the-art techniques to diagnose and treat all types of gastrointestinal cancers. All the patients are offered personalized treatment after a Multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussion. Prevention is always better than cure. So, minimise the risk of GI cancer with a balanced diet, regular exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking.

Gastrointestinal Oncology