Gastrointestinal cancer

GI cancer diagnostics and genetic screenings

Atlantic Health's Gastrointestinal Multidisciplinary Program provides pathological diagnosis of even the most unusual gastrointestinal tumors. We have experts in the following interventional radiology and diagnostic services:

Colon cancer screening center

Beginning at age 50 both men and women should be screened for colorectal cancer. Our screening services include:

• Stool occult blood screening – may detect small amounts of blood in the stool.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy – a procedure during which the physician inserts a flexible lighted tube containing a camera into the colon through the anus to check for polyps and other potential signs of cancer
• Genetic counseling – can help you learn the role family history plays in cancer risk, your personal cancer risk, whether genetic testing is appropriate for you, etc.
• 3D trans rectal ultrasound with ultrasound guided biopsy – provides better staging and treatment management of colorectal cancers

Colorectal laboratory

We are specifically tailored to meet the needs of patients who suffer from anal incontinence, constipation, fissures, fistulas, structural abnormalities and colorectal tumors. Services include:

• Anal manometry – helps evaluate those with impaired control over bowel function
• Cine defecography – a painless x-ray examination that provides information on the function of the lower colon or rectum
• Pudendal nerve test and electromyography (EMG) – tests the nerves and is used to identify problems with incontinence and constipation
• Rectal ultrasound – identifies structural abnormalities specifically fistulas, fissures, and tumors
• Biofeedback – a non-surgical therapy that assists patients in retraining anal sphincter muscles to alleviate symptoms of incontinence, constipation and rectal pain

 

Treatment options for gastrointestinal cancers

Atlantic Health’s Gastrointestinal Multidisciplinary Program provides effective, technologically advanced treatment services for patients with all types of gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, including esophageal, stomach, biliary tract (bile duct), small intestine, colon, rectal, liver and pancreatic cancers.

Our GI cancer treatment services include:

• Chemotherapy – hepatic artery infusion pumps deliver concentrated chemotherapy directly to the liver
• Clinical trials
• Neoadjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and radiation therapy prior to gastrointestinal surgery) – encourages significant reductions in tumor volume, allowing initially unresectable cancers to become resectable, and providing improvements in survival and cancer control
• Radiation therapy – advanced interventional radiologic and radiation therapy techniques, like TrueBeam™ Radiotherapy, allow for precise tumor targeting
• Gastrointestinal surgery
  • Advanced laparoscopy
  • Hybrid procedure – combines laparoscopic and traditional surgery to treat benign and malignant gastrointestinal tumors
  • NanoKnife® System – uses electrical currents to surgically destroy localized cancers in the pancreas and liver without damaging the surrounding veins, vessels and ducts
  • Radiofrequency and microwave ablation – used to treat primary and metastatic liver tumors
  • Traditional and minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery – state-of-the-art fiber optic technology limits the amount of incisions, reduces pain and shortens recovery time for patients who suffer from polyps and cancer
• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
• Wound ostomy care – stoma siting, preoperative education and counseling regarding the physical care of a newly created stoma and the psychosocial aspects of daily living, post-surgical follow-up care, problem resolution, support and guidance provided by a certified wound ostomy nurse

Multidisciplinary clinics and conferences for GI cancer patients

In addition, Atlantic Health's cancer centers at Morristown and Overlook medical centers offers multidisciplinary consultations for appropriate GI cancer patients. Each patient meets with our nurse navigator and our team of surgeons, radiation therapists and physicians specializing in medical oncology, who review each case and recommend an individualized treatment plan.