What are Gastrointestinal Cancers?
Gastrointestinal cancer is a group of cancers that affect the digestive system. There are several types of cancers grouped under GI cancer.

Stomach Cancer
Stomach Cancer- In this type of cancer, malignant cancer cells form in the lining of the stomach. It develops slowly over many years.

Symptoms

Please remember that having these symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have stomach cancer. It could be due to several other medical conditions. Hence if you have these symptoms, I recommend you get yourself checked.

Indigestion and stomach discomfort
A bloated feeling after eating
Mild nausea
Loss of appetite
Heartburn
In more advanced stages the following symptoms may occur:

Blood in the stool
Vomiting
Weight Loss for no known reason
Stomach pain
Jaundice
Collection of fluid in the abdomen
Difficulty swallowing
Diagnosing Stomach Cancer
The diagnostic tests that are used to examine the stomach and oesophagus are used to diagnose
stomach cancer. They are

Physical examination: checking for signs of the disease, such as lumps, pain or any
other abnormal changes.
Blood tests: a procedure in which a blood sample is collected and tested for
abnormalities.
Doctor may order for a complete blood count to check for Haemoglobin in the red blood
cells.

Endoscopy: a diagnostic procedure to examine the oesophagus, stomach, and small intestine to check for tumors.

Stomach Cancer Treatment
Like in other types of cancers, treatment will depend on how large the tumor is and at what stage the cancer has reached.

Surgery is usually the most common treatment for all stages of stomach cancer. The main treatment
is gastrectomy surgery.


Small Interstine Cancer
What is Small Intestine Cancer?
Small Intestine Cancer is a relatively rare disease in which cancer cells form in the
tissues of the small intestine.

The small intestine is a long tube that connects the stomach and the large interstine.

Symptoms
Pain or cramps in the middle of the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
Unusual lump in the abdomen
Blood in the stool
Diagnosing Small Intestine Cancer
Some of the diagnostic tests doctors may recommend for small interstine cancer includes

Abdominal x-ray
Barium enema
Faecal Occult Blood Test
Upper endoscopy
Upper GI series with small bowel follow-through
Lymph node biopsy:
Small intestine cancer is also usually treated with surgery.

Liver Cancer
Liver Cancer occurs when cancerous cells within the liver grow in an abnormal way.

Symptoms of liver cancer can include:
A feeling of discomfort on the upper right side of the abdomen
A lump below the rib cage on the right side
Pain in the upper back, around the right shoulder blade
Unexplained weight loss
Jaundice – a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes
Unusual tiredness
Loss of appetite and/or nausea.
Diagnosis tests for liver cancer
A physical examination.
Examination of a blood sample.
Scanning of the liver
Laparoscopy
Biopsy of the liver
Liver cancer treatment options can include surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Oesophageal Cancer is cancer of the long tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It’s role is to push food from the mouth through to the stomach.
Difficulty swallowing
Food coming back up
Weight loss
Acid reflux
Hoarseness or a chronic cough
Coughing up blood
Other than this, GI cancer also refers to following cancers

Esophageal Cancer
Gallbladder Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumor
Neuro-endocrine Tumors
Colo-rectal Cancer
Small Bowel Cancer
Anal Cancer
If you are interested in knowing more about any of these types of cancers specifically, Contact Us!