Gastro-intestinal (GI) cancer include common cancers like – cancer of esophagus (food pipe), cancer of stomach, gall bladder cancer, colo-rectal cancer. These are among the commonest cancer affecting the north Indian population. These cancers are caused by three common factors – Our life style, Addiction to smoking and alcohol, and our food habits.
Patient having any of the above symptoms should consultant a cancer specialist and these cancers can be diagnosed by Endoscopy. Endoscopy is a technology which helps actual visualization of the esophagus, stomach, colon and rectum. It also helps in obtaining biopsy for any suspicious lesion.
Gastro-Intestinal (GI) cancer treatment requires a multimodality approach. It necessitates a dedicated oncology team that consists of Surgical, Medical and Radiation Oncologist, also included in them are the onco-pathologist and radiologist. Every patient is discussed in tumor board formed by the above-mentioned specialty and the optimum outcome with least morbidity is decided according to international guidelines.
There are lot of advances in the surgical aspect for the treatment of GI cancer, with the whole gamut of advance Laparoscopic surgery. It has been demonstrated in various multinational trials that laparoscopic surgery, also known as minimally invasive surgery or key hole surgery, is equivalent to open surgery in terms of patient benefit and oncological safety for GI cancers.