Gastrointestinal Cancers

Cancers We Treat » Gastrointestinal Cancers

Proton Therapy for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal tract cancer, also called GI cancer, refers to cancers which occur anywhere within the digestive tract, such as the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, colon, rectum and anus. GI cancers can be challenging to treat due to their location close to sensitive structures. Typically, a combination of treatments is used to treat GI tumors including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

The precision of proton therapy allows physicians the flexibility to treat tumors with higher doses of radiation while keeping healthy surrounding tissue out of the radiation fields. This reduction in dose to critical structures can result in reduced side effects.

The GI tract tumors most appropriate for proton therapy include:

  • Anal Cancer
  • Esophageal Cancer
  • Gastric Cancer
  • Liver Cancer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Rectal Cancer

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

  • Weight loss (without trying)
  • Loss of appetite
  • Feeling very full after a small meal
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • An enlarged liver, felt as a mass under the ribs on the right side
  • An enlarged spleen, felt as a mass under the ribs on the left side
  • Pain in the abdomen or near the right shoulder blade
  • Swelling or fluid build-up in the abdomen
  • Itching
  • Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)

Symptoms of Rectal Cancer

  • Change in bowel habits – Constipation, diarrhea, and bowel incontinence, although usually symptoms of other, less serious, problems, can also be a sign of colorectal cancer.
  • Blood on or in the stool
  • Unexplained anemia
  • Unusual stomach or gas pain
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting

Symptoms of Anal Cancer

  • Rectal bleeding
  • Rectal itching
  • A lump or mass at the anal opening
  • Pain or a feeling of fullness in the anal area
  • Narrowing of stool or other changes in bowel movements
  • Abnormal discharge from the anus
  • Swollen lymph nodes in the anal or groin areas

Diagnosis

As with many cancers, GI cancers may be detected through various imaging tests, including ultrasounds, computerized tomography (CT) scans and magnetic resonance imagining (MRI). Physicians may take bloodwork for lab tests. Scopes may be used by a physician, usually a Gastroenterologist, to look inside the esophagus or colon in procedures such as endoscopy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, or sigmoidoscopy. A physician may complete a biopsy as well, which involves the removal of a tissue sample that is then examined for the presence of cancer.

Treatment

Cancers of the GI Tract are often treated with a combination of modalities including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Proton therapy can be an excellent non-invasive option and provide superior treatment plans to conventional radiation.
In many cases, due to its ability to target only the tumor site and avoid exposing healthy surrounding tissue to unnecessary radiation, proton therapy allows physicians to treat tumors that would not otherwise be possible. The precision of proton therapy can treat the tumor but stop radiation from reaching sensitive organs such as your bladder, bowel, small intestine, stomach, spinal cord, and kidneys. This means less likelihood of side effects like nausea, cramping, dehydration, inability to absorb nutrients from your food, diarrhea etc.

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