Digestive Tract Cancers

Grandfather reading a story to his grand daughter

Feel Whole With Digestive Tract Cancer Experts Near You

A digestive tract cancer diagnosis impacts your whole life and your family’s routine as well, and we understand it’s not easy as you try to find your new normal. At AdventHealth Cancer Institute, we provide comprehensive, multidisciplinary digestive tract cancer care with advanced diagnostics, robotic-assisted surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Our whole-person care approach means our specialized teams treat not only your symptoms, but all what makes you — you — including your physical, emotional and spiritual needs. We know that when one part of the whole is hurting, whether it’s a part of the body or a beloved member of a family unit, it affects all the other parts — in body, mind and spirit. We want you to know that you and your loved ones won’t walk this path alone. We’re here to provide support that helps you get back to feeling whole.

Nationally Recognized

Trust in leading care. AdventHealth Cancer Institute is accredited as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program and received the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) designation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
Tailored and Comprehensive Treatments

Our team is made up of the country’s leading experts, who are focused on treating the entire scope of benign and malignant GI tumors with an individualized, comprehensive approach.
Personalized Patient Navigation

You’ll always feel empowered and prepared. Day after day, our compassionate and knowledgeable Nurse Navigators will coordinate your appointments, talk you through every treatment option, and more. We’ll make sure you’re always supported.

A digestive tract cancer diagnosis may include conditions like the following, and we understand the complex emotions you’re feeling. Whatever specific diagnosis you receive, find comforting knowing you’ll be in the best hands here with our caring team of specialists.

As you begin your treatment journey, it’s important to know that because no two cancer diagnoses are the same, your oncology team will personalize your course of treatment strategically, prescribing individual therapies as needed. Depending on your diagnosis, your treatment plan may include some, none, or a combination of the therapies below.

Surgery: If surgery is part of your treatment plan, it’s reassuring to know that your health is in the hands of specialized oncology surgeons. As a recognized leader in digestive cancer care, we’re helping patients heal through innovative surgical care day in and day out.
Options for Surgery
Gastrointestinal cancer surgery can be a promising step forward on your path to healing. Your dedicated team of gastrointestinal cancer specialists will review every detail of your medical history and recent tests to recommend the most effective treatment plan for you. Surgery may be the only treatment you need, or, more commonly, it’s used in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
We treat a broad range of digestive tract tumors with the most minimally-invasive procedures possible. Depending on your type of cancer and stage, that could include:
Robotic surgery uses smaller incisions for colon or rectal cancer operations, meaning shorter recovery times.
Transanal minimally-invasive surgery is a new, highly effective treatment to remove rectal tumors, pioneered by the skilled surgeons at our hospital.
Tumor and partial colon or rectum removal is used to treat colorectal cancer. Depending on your case, your surgeon may take out more of the colon or rectum.
Pancreatic and liver tumors, both benign and malignant, are often treated with minimally-invasive techniques.
Whatever procedure is part of your treatment plan, trust in a team ready to guide you from pre-op to post-op and beyond.

Learn More About Oncology Surgery

Pancreatic Action Network

Colon Cancer Coalition
Radiation: Radiation Therapy: What to Expect
While radiation therapy is one of the most common treatments for gastrointestinal cancer, at AdventHealth Cancer Institute, we do it with uncommon expertise, guidance, and compassion. Using sophisticated radiation technology, we can target tumors including rectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer with amazing precision, easing your pain and leaving healthy tissue untouched. Depending on your diagnosis, your dedicated team may recommend radiation alone, but in many cases, we combine it with surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes other treatment options.
How Does Radiation Therapy Work?
Our oncology experts take an individualized approach to every patient’s treatment plan. Radiation therapy targets specific areas of the body, shrinking tumors and killing cancer cells by damaging their DNA.
When treating digestive tract cancer, radiation therapy is usually delivered one of three ways:
External radiation, which delivers radiation in a concentrated beam to keep nearby healthy tissue unaffected, often using imaging to guide the treatment.
Internal radiation delivers concentrated doses of radiation guided by ultrasound, keeping healthy nearby tissue safer.
Systemic radiation is a treatment that is swallowed or injected and then travels through your bloodstream to target and shrink cancer cells.
Throughout your treatment, your nurses and your radiology care team are there to keep you and your support system informed, comfortable, and uplifted.

Learn More About Radiation Therapy

Pancreatic Action Network

Colon Cancer Coalition
Chemotherapy: Nothing matters more to us than getting you well, and getting you home. Depending on what type of gastrointestinal cancer you have and the level of advancement, chemotherapy may play an essential role in successfully treating your cancer, including colon cancer, rectal cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer. From the moment you arrive for your chemo treatment, one of our nurses will be there to greet you and guide you.
How Does Chemotherapy Work?
Using a combination of specialized drugs, chemotherapy has the power to destroy or slow down the growth of fast-growing cancer cells, wherever they are. More often than not for gastrointestinal cancer, chemo is administered intravenously, but it can also be delivered by injection or orally. At AdventHealth Cancer Institute, our oncology experts take an individualized approach to your chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy can be used three different ways to help treat gastrointestinal cancer:
Neoadjuvant treatment, during which chemo is administered before surgery to shrink the tumor, making it easier to remove and helping prevent the cancer cells from coming back.
Adjuvant treatment, during which chemo is administered after surgery to help remove any cancer that may be left. Often, you may receive a combination of chemo and radiation therapy after surgery, called chemoradiation.
Chemotherapy can also be used as your primary treatment option if surgery and/or radiation therapy aren’t the right course of treatment for you.
Depending on your type of cancer, we’ll determine which treatment(s) is best for you.

Learn More About Chemotherapy Treatment

Pancreatic Action Network

Colon Cancer Coalition
Dedicated Care for Early Onset Colorectal Cancer: Our Gastrointestinal Cancer Program offers an optimized care track for patients with early onset colorectal cancer. The early onset group includes patients who have been diagnosed at age 50 or under, and as a result, often require a unique approach to treatment. As the rate of diagnoses of colorectal cancer in younger populations continues to rise, we’re taking a proactive approach to help patients reach the best possible outcome. Our multidisciplinary team of GI oncology experts works with these patients to develop individualized care plans, keeping age, lifestyle, overall health and other factors top of mind. Backed by a highly specialized team, support resources and wellness programs, we’re here to help get you back to what matters most.

We take a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to your cancer care, which means different types of specialists work together as a team to determine the most personalized and effective treatment plan for you.

Ilan Aharoni, MD

Gastroenterology
Abubaker Ali, MD, FACS

Surgical Oncology
Ahmed Allawi, MD, MBChB

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Lawrence Thomas Chin, MD

Transplant Surgery
Amit K. Chowdhry, MD, PhD

Radiation Oncology
Jeremy Cravens, MD

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Ryan W Day, MD

Transplant Surgery
Sebastian de La Fuente, MD

General Surgery, Surgical Oncology
Andrew Guzowski, MD

Surgical Oncology
John Leone, MD, PhD, FACS

General Surgery, Transplant Surgery
Michele Malit, DO

General Surgery
Kim-Phung T Nguyen, MD

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Peter Peng, MD, FACS

Surgical Oncology Medical Director — Central Florida

Surgical Oncology
Andrew Ritter, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Armando Rosales, MD

Surgical Oncology
Sharona Ross, MD

General Surgery
Ravi Shridhar, MD, PhD

Radiation Oncology
Iswanto Sucandy, MD

General Surgery
Mohamedtaki Tejani, MD

Hematology and Oncology
Timothy Tolland, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Matthew Wilson, MD, FACS, FASCRS

Colon and Rectal Surgery
Ahmed Zakari, MD

Hematology and Oncology

Question: What are early signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer?

Answer:

Early GI cancer often causes no symptoms, or it mimics minor stomach issues like indigestion. Key early signs include unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal discomfort, feeling full after eating small amounts, constant fatigue and heartburn. If you have symptoms that last more than two or three weeks, seek a medical evaluation.
Question: What are the causes of gastrointestinal cancer, and who is most at risk?

Answer:

GI cancers, including stomach, colorectal, liver and esophageal cancers, are primarily caused by chronic inflammation, infections (such as H. pylori or hepatitis), genetic mutations and lifestyle factors like smoking, heavy alcohol use and poor diet. Those most at risk are typically men, being over 60 and those with a family history of GI cancer.
Question: Can gastrointestinal cancer be found early through screening?

Answer:

Yes, GI cancers can be found early through screening, which often allows for more effective treatment and improved survival rates. While colorectal cancer has standard screening protocols, other GI cancers are typically screened only in high-risk populations. Early detection is vital because GI cancers often show no symptoms until they are advanced.
Question: How are gastrointestinal cancers diagnosed?

Answer:

GI cancer diagnosis primarily involves endoscopic procedures (upper endoscopy, colonoscopy) and imaging techniques to detect tumors, followed by a biopsy for confirmation. These tests are used to examine the lining of the digestive tract and evaluate the extent of the cancer.
Question: What are the treatment options for gastrointestinal cancer?

Answer:

Treatment options for GI cancer are often multimodal, combining surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and immunotherapy tailored to the cancer type and stage. Surgery is the primary treatment for localized, resectable tumors, while advanced cases often require personalized approaches like HIPEC (heated chemotherapy) or molecularly targeted drugs.
Question: Is surgery an option for gastrointestinal cancer?

Answer:

Yes, surgery is a primary treatment option for most GI cancers, often providing the best chance for a cure if the cancer hasn’t spread extensively. It’s used to remove tumors, along with surrounding lymph nodes, and can be performed through traditional open procedures or minimally invasive techniques like laparoscopy or robotic surgery.

A digestive tract diagnosis deserves the utmost expertise and unwavering support, and that’s what you and your family can expect from our team at the AdventHealth Cancer Institute. We deliver specialized treatments for colorectal, anal, pancreatic, liver and stomach cancers — all coordinated through a trusted national network. Explore our locations or ask your dedicated Cancer Care Navigator to help you find the best place for the care you need.

Digestive Tract Cancers

Feel Whole With Digestive Tract Cancer Experts Near You

Comprehensive Care for Digestive Cancers

Nationally Recognized

Tailored and Comprehensive Treatments

Personalized Patient Navigation