Gastrointestinal Cancers

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract refers to all the organs responsible for the ingestion of food (eating), digestion, absorption, and defecation.  GI organs include the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, biliary tree, small bowel (or intestine), colon, and anus.  Cancers can arise in any of these organs.

The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach.  It is about six inches long and has three main parts: The widest part is called the head; the middle of the gland is the body; the narrow end is called the tail.  The pancreas makes hormones, such as insulin.  It also makes proteins, called enzymes, that help to digest food.  Enzymes are made in the small ducts of the pancreas.  The small ducts connect to the main duct that extends from the tail to head of the pancreas.

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and women. Of those, 40,340 will be diagnosed with rectal cancer. About 7,060 people will learn they have anal cancer. Patients with these types of cancer often benefit from radiation therapy as part of treatment. Some cancers involving the bowel run within families (hereditary colorectal cancers). It is important to discuss your diagnosis with family members so they can decide with their doctors whether they need to be screened for colorectal cancers. This is especially important if you were diagnosed with a colorectal cancer at a young age or if there are several other types of cancers that run in your family

Liver cancers can occur within the liver itself  (primary liver cancers) or spread to the liver from other disease sites (liver metastases).  Primary liver cancers are the third most common GI cancer with nearly 30,000 new cases each year.  Liver metastases are also common and may occur in up to 30-50% of adult tumors that originate from outside the liver.  Many treatment options are available for all liver cancers, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other liver-directed therapies.