Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer

Comprehensive care for gastrointestinal (GI), colon cancer patients

At the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer and Research Pavilion (LCRP), we are dedicated to guiding you and your family through every stage of your gastrointestinal (GI) cancer care. From diagnosis to treatment, our team partners with you to provide you with the most advanced and personalized care available.

Gastrointestinal cancers encompass a range of diseases, including colorectal, gallbladder, stomach, liver, esophageal, and pancreatic cancers. If your colonoscopy reveals cancer, your primary care doctor will refer you to a medical oncologist. Together, we determine the best course of treatment based on the stage and location of the tumor. Our treatment decisions follow national guidelines derived from extensive research, ensuring the most effective and evidence-based care.

An integrated team for treatment of GI cancers

Our GI Cancer Team comprises specialized physicians, nutritionists and healthcare professionals who meet to coordinate and design treatments to your unique needs. This includes the expertise of a certified wound ostomy nurse, who provides support for colorectal and bladder cancer patients requiring surgical procedures for bladder and bowel diversions. Additionally, members of our staff participate in the Savannah Ostomy Support Group, a resource for patients and their families, which meets at the LCRP and is led by an ostomy patient.

Goals of the coordinated GI team:

• Standardizing educational materials and processes: The team ensures consistency in educational materials, pathology reports, and diagnostic work-ups.
• Creating screening guidelines: Developing guidelines to promote early detection and intervention.
• Developing treatment plans: Tumor board discussions establish individualized treatment plans, guided by National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommendations.

Colorectal cancer screening: Colonoscopy saves lives

The best form of screening for colorectal cancer is colonoscopy. It has been proven to save lives.

Colonoscopy is a procedure that lets your healthcare provider check the inside of your entire large intestine or colon. The procedure is done using a long, flexible tube (colonoscope). The tube has a light and tiny camera on one end. It is put in your rectum and moved into your colon.

Ongoing health initiatives

The GI team continually improves care through various initiatives:

• Screening and treatment guidelines: Establishing standardized protocols for colon cancer screening and treatment based on NCCN guidelines.
• Awareness and education: Developing a calendar of community events, continuing medical education (CME) opportunities, and screening forums, particularly during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month each March.

These initiatives aim to increase early detection, organize treatment processes, and enhance patient outcomes through education and community outreach.

The impact of clinical trials

Because of our selection as a National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program, we have access to some of the latest cancer trials. Clinical trials at the LCRP provide patients with access to new, advanced treatments before they become widely available. By participating in these trials, patients play an active role in advancing cancer research while receiving cutting-edge care. Trials are conducted under the highest safety standards and often focus on precision medicine, tailoring treatments to the unique genetic makeup of each patient’s cancer. Our commitment to research ensures that our patients benefit from the latest therapies designed to improve outcomes and quality of life.