Gastrointestinal Cancer
Gastrointestinal cancer is a group of cancers affecting the organs that help you digest food and absorb nutrients. Care for gastrointestinal cancer at the Cancer Institute includes uncommon expertise and a broad range of care options.
Gastrointestinal cancers we treat
Types of gastrointestinal cancer we treat include:
- Anal cancer
- Bile duct cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Stomach cancer
Gastrointestinal cancer care at Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute
Gastrointestinal cancer requires specialized care, and that’s precisely what you’ll find at the Cancer Institute.
Our team includes doctors specializing in every aspect of gastrointestinal cancer, including diagnosis, surgical and non-surgical treatments. We work together to help you get the care you need. Highlights of our offerings include:
Focus on quality of life
We offer sophisticated treatments, including the Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer. We remove the cancer and repair the remaining tissue so you can digest food normally and avoid living with a feeding tube.
Accurate diagnosis
We are the only cancer center in the region with doctors who specialize in diagnosing gastrointestinal cancer (gastrointestinal pathologists). This level of expertise helps you get an accurate diagnosis so you can receive efficient care right from the start.
Excellent results
Our experience performing a high volume of surgeries means we complete procedures in less time, allowing you to recover faster. Our complication rates are well below the national average, so you can rely on us for safe care that gets rid of the cancer.
Treatments for gastrointestinal cancer
At the Cancer Institute, you have access to a broad range of treatments. Our multidisciplinary clinic helps you learn about the options that are best for you. In one visit, you see multiple cancer experts and receive a personalized treatment plan. Find out more about our multidisciplinary cancer clinic. Your care may include:
Endoscopic procedures
We treat cancer with the help of surgical instruments and a tiny camera we pass through a body opening, such as the anus or mouth. Endoscopic procedures allow us to successfully treat the cancer while minimizing disruption to nearby healthy tissue.
Surgery
If you need surgery, you can breathe a little easier knowing you are in expert hands. Our cancer center is home to one of the first surgeons in the country board-certified in complex general surgical oncology. Our expert passed a rigorous exam and keeps up-to-date on all the latest techniques. Read more about cancer surgery.
Cancer drugs (chemotherapy)
We deliver a personalized combination of drugs that prevent cancer cells from growing. Our membership in the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Alliance and other prestigious clinical trial networks gives you access to drugs that are not widely available. Read more about chemotherapy.
Radiation therapy
We safely break up cancer cells using beams of energy and other substances. We use the latest technologies, including the Varian Edge™ radiosurgery system, which safely delivers a high dose of radiation and allows you to complete treatment in fewer, shorter visits. Find out more about radiation therapy.
