Our services include:
Diagnostic Services
Huntsman Cancer Institute offers a variety of imaging and procedural techniques
to diagnose gastrointestinal (GI) tumors. These include computed tomography
(CT), positron emission tomography-CT (PET-CT), magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), ultrasound (US), colonoscopy, endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound
(EUS, used to evaluate esophageal, stomach, pancreatic, and rectal cancers),
and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (a noninvasive means of
visualizing the bile ducts).
Laparoscopy, a minimally invasive technique, allows visualization within
the abdominal cavity, biopsies, and ultrasound examination of the liver,
pancreas, and stomach. Doctors use the information obtained to determine
if and how far cancer has spread and to plan each patient’s individualized
care.
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Support
Groups
Support
Groups
GI
online message board
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Treatment
Planning Conferences
To optimize patient care, the members of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s
gastrointestinal multidisciplinary team review all new cases at weekly
multidisciplinary treatment planning conferences. Our nationally recognized
pathologists, radiologists, and gastroenterologists, as well as our medical,
radiation, and surgical oncologists, carefully study each new patient.
Each patient receives an individualized treatment plan, specific to his
or her needs.
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Treatment
Services
Huntsman Cancer Institute physicians take an aggressive approach to treating
patients with cancers of the GI tract. If tests show that you have a GI
cancer, we offer a variety of treatment options, including the following:
- Surgery removes the tumor and nearby affected tissues with an emphasis
on techniques that preserve function.
- Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, shrink tumors, and provide
pain relief.
- Radiation therapy uses focused beams of radiation to kill cancer
cells, shrink tumors, and provide pain relief.
- Interventional radiology delivers cancer therapy using minimally
invasive image- guided procedures.
Radiation and chemotherapy can be given before or after surgery. Your
doctor may recommend one of these approaches, or a combination of them,
depending on your type of cancer and the extent of the tumor's growth
and stage. Huntsman Cancer Institute physicians work with your personal
physician to assure continuity of care.
Huntsman Cancer Institute physicians are conducting a number of clinical
trials of new chemotherapy drugs, drug combinations, and other treatment
approaches for GI cancers. For information on clinical trials that are
currently enrolling patients, please visit the Clinical
Trials website
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