We understand how overwhelming it can be when you’ve been diagnosed with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. GI cancer can be found anywhere in the digestive system, including the liver, gallbladder, pancreas and appendix.
No matter what kind of GI cancer you’re dealing with, our experts will provide a path from diagnosis to treatment and through to survivorship, while making your quality of life a top priority.
GI cancers treated at RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center include:
Whether it’s up-to-date GI cancer therapy or supportive care for you and your family, we are here for you. And RUSH MD Anderson has multiple locations in and around the Chicago area so you can get care close to home.
GI Cancer Treatment Options
Treating GI cancer starts with a team of experts dedicated to your care. They may include:
- Medical oncologists
- Gastroenterologists
- Surgical oncologists
- Colorectal surgeons
- Interventional radiologists
- Genetic counselors
- Dietitians
- Social workers
- Supportive oncology professionals
You can see many of these gastrointestinal cancer specialists in a single visit to discuss your diagnosis and treatment options. And you’ll have a dedicated nurse coordinator to schedule tests, procedures and appointments.
In addition to meeting with you, they meet once a week with each other to discuss your care plan. This way, your care team reaches a consensus on how to care for you effectively.
Based on your type of cancer, your needs and your treatment plan, you may need:
- Nonsurgical care. This includes chemotherapy (drugs that target cancer cells), immunotherapy (drugs that help your own immune system destroy cancer cells) or radiation therapy.
- Minimally invasive procedures. For some cancers, we can offer treatments that do not use any cuts. This reduces recovery time while achieving your treatment goals (whether that’s reducing your symptoms or removing the cancer). Minimally invasive procedures include ERCP, endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic mucosal resection. For some cancers, you may need an ablation, a procedure that uses heat, cold or radiation to destroy cancer cells without damaging the surrounding tissue.
- Surgery. Many GI cancers can be removed surgically. This may mean removing part or all of the organ affected by the tumor. Our surgeons are trained in robotic surgery, which can reach difficult-to-see areas and result in a shorter recovery time.
Meet our gastrointestinal cancer providers
Getting a Second Opinion from RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center
Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Consider a second opinion from RUSH MD Anderson. A second opinion can help you explore all your options and begin treatment with confidence and clarity.
RUSH MD Anderson offers easy access to second opinions, including free virtual intake visits with our knowledgeable nurse navigators for anyone in Illinois.
Why Choose RUSH MD Anderson for Gastrointestinal Cancer Care?
- Advanced care for GI cancers: We can provide up-to-date treatments for GI cancers, including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and minimally invasive surgical options. In some cases, your care team may also recommend genomic sequencing to further personalize your care. And you'll also have access to clinical trials.
- Expertise in treating advanced gastrointestinal cancers: We’re one of the few medical centers in the nation that offering hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a novel and effective treatment for certain patients who have advanced abdominal cancers, and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), a novel therapy for neuroendocrine cancer.
- Center of excellence for pancreatic cancer care: Rush University Medical Center is a National Pancreas Foundation Center of Excellence. This designation recognizes our multidisciplinary care for pancreatic cancer, treating the whole patient with a focus on outcomes and improved quality of life. Rush is the first health system in Illinois to earn this designation.
- High-risk clinic for GI cancers: The high-risk gastrointestinal (GI) cancer clinic will work closely with you if you have underlying precancerous conditions or genetic factors that put you at a higher risk for developing GI cancers — including colorectal, esophageal, gastric or pancreatic cancers. Our expert team will provide you with personalized GI cancer risk assessment, screening and preventive care — as well as a care and surveillance plan based on your distinct needs and risk factors.
- Convenient care: With locations in Chicago and throughout the suburbs, we make it convenient for you to get the gastrointestinal cancer treatment you need, where and when you need it. And no matter where you see your GI cancer provider, you can receive gastrointestinal cancer treatment at any of our infusion centers in downtown Chicago, Oak Park, Lisle and Aurora/Fox Valley.
FAQs About Gastrointestinal Cancer
RUSH MD Anderson treats many types of gastrointestinal cancer, including stomach, esophageal, colorectal, pancreatic and liver cancers. We have specialists in each type of GI cancer to provide the right care you need, when you need it.
Treatment depends on your type of cancer. Some cancers need medication (including chemotherapy and immunotherapy) or radiation therapy. Many cancers require surgery. Some cancers can be treated or have symptoms reduced without surgery.
One of the most common GI cancers, colon cancer, can be found during a screening colonoscopy — well before you have any symptoms.
Other cancers are found when you have an abnormal blood test or an imaging test related to another problem. You may also have symptoms of GI cancer, including abdominal pain, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, stool changes, blood in the stool, bloating or unexplained weight loss.
If your doctor suspects you have cancer, you will get more imaging, as well as a biopsy. A biopsy removes a small piece of tissue to look for cancer cells.
You may have surgery to remove your tumor. To remove as much cancer as possible, some diseases require removal of part or all of an organ. No matter what kind of surgery you need, an expert will explain the entire procedure, and you’ll get a chance to ask questions.
Chemotherapy is medication that destroys cancer cells. The medication is infused directly into your bloodstream. Because the drug goes all over your body, you may experience side effects.
Targeted therapy uses radiation, or waves of energy, to destroy cancer cells. Your doctor will use imaging tools to find exactly where to send the radiation to avoid damaging any healthy cells.
Yes. We offer radiation therapy when it’s the right treatment for your GI cancer.
Your cancer specialists will use your medical history (including symptoms), imaging tests, and biopsies to understand exactly what kind of cancer you have. Multiple experts will meet with you, and then with each other, to understand your needs and the different treatment options available. Then, our experts use their experience and training to determine the course of treatment that makes sense for you.
Most, but not all, patients with GI cancer will need surgery. Your team will look at where your cancer started and where it has grown. This will determine whether you need surgery.
The first visit is usually at least a full hour. Your specialist will discuss your diagnosis, as well as the schedule for your treatment plan. We know this can be an overwhelming visit, and we take our time. Our nurses, nurse navigators and social workers will also be on hand to help with anything related to your treatment — from paperwork to parking placards to scheduling your upcoming visits.
Yes. You will meet with multiple specialties as needed for your diagnosis. And specialists have a weekly tumor board where they discuss each patient and how to care for them.
Yes. RUSH MD Anderson provides access to a wide range of clinical trials. Your doctor will discuss what options are available to you.
Our nurses, nurse navigators and social workers will work with you to understand what you and your family need. Our specialists are also have experience caring for patients with your kind of cancer: We know what can help with quality of life as we’re providing cancer care.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Rush University Medical Center among the best in the nation for gastroenterology and cancer care.
