Gastrointestinal Cancer Program
Holistic Care for Cancers of the Colon, Stomach, Pancreas & More
MarinHealth Cancer Care offers a comprehensive program for the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including tumors of the stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum, and anus. For people diagnosed with a GI cancer, the challenge is to coordinate and implement the diagnostic and treatment plan associated with the disease. The sequencing of testing is complex, as is the scheduling of the pre-surgical work-up. This process involves a multidisciplinary team of gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and registered nurses.
We provide the quality of care and advanced technology you might expect from a university setting, combined with the personalized service associated with the nation’s finest community hospital. Our treatment team tailors care to each individual in order to achieve the best possible outcome.
Diagnostic Services
- Endoscopy
- Ultrasound
- Endorectal Ultrasound
- Colonoscopy
- CT and MRI
- Capsule Endoscopy
- PET Scan
Treatments
Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as laparoscopic colectomy and sphincter-saving procedures for rectal cancer. Our advanced radiation oncology techniques include intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a treatment that accurately targets tumors while minimizing side effects from radiation. We also participate in national clinical research trials.
SIR-Spheres® Microspheres Therapy for Inoperable Liver Tumors
MarinHealth patients with liver malignancies now have access to a high-tech treatment that is normally only available at major academic hospitals: SIR-Spheres® Microspheres Therapy. This treatment uses a radioactive isotope called Yttrium-90 (Y-90) to target inoperable liver malignancies. Y-90 is delivered through SIR-Spheres® microspheres.
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis by an interventional radiologist. The specialist inserts a catheter into an artery in the patient’s groin and threads it up to the liver, where the microspheres are released. The microspheres selectively target tumor cells with a high-powered dose of radiation, sparing healthy tissue. SIR-Spheres® microspheres have been proven to improve quality of life and extend survival for patients with inoperable liver tumors.
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Tumor Conference
Our Gastrointestinal Cancer Tumor Conference goes over the treatment plan of every one of our gastrointestinal cancer patients. This multidisciplinary board includes gastroenterologists, pathologists, surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists. The conference meets regularly at MarinHealth Medical Center and reviews all newly diagnosed cases. Many cases undergo multiple reviews while treatment is underway. The patient’s primary care physicians are encouraged to attend.