What is Gastrointestinal Cancer ?

Gastro-Intestinal (GI) is a term for a group of cancer that affects the digestive system. This includes esophagus, gallbladder and biliary tract, liver, pancreas, abdomen, small intestine, bowel (large intestine or colon or rectum), and anal cancer. GI is the most common form of cancer cancer. GI cancer does not discriminate between men and women. Dr. Sanjay Singh Poolf provides the best gastrointestinal cancer surgeon in South Mumbai at the Cancer Center, which is the best cancer hospital in South Mumbai .

Types of gastrointestinal cancer include

• Esophagal : cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells are formed in esophagus tissue, tubes that transport food from your mouth to your stomach. Esophagal cancer can occur in any part of the esophagus and within various cells
• Stomach : cancer occurs when deadly cancer cells are formed in the abdominal wall. Malignant cancer cells are abnormal cells who have not only lost control over how they grow, but can also spread to the human body.
• Gallbladder : cancer is rare cancer where malignant cancer cells are formed in the gallbladder tissue.
• Gastro-Intends Stromal Tumors (GIST) : are a rare type of cancer found in the path of gastro-intestines, which is part of the body's digestive system. It is believed that gists begin in the cells found between the coats of the muscles of the gastro-intestines, called the interstitial cell of the Kajal (ICC). GIST development usually begins in connective tissue in the affected organ wall and moves outward. best gastrointestinal cancer surgeon in South Mumbai
• Liver cancer occurs in two conditions: primary liver cancer when malignant cells form first and spread to the liver, and secondary liver cancer where the cancer began in another part of the body has later spread to the liver.
• Pancreatic : cancer develops when malignant cancer cells, which are abnormal cells with uncontrolled growth, occur in parts of the pancreas.
• Colorectal : cancer also known as large bowel cancer, when malignant cancer cells in large bowel walls grow. It includes large intestines, and rectals, which are all part of the low digestive system. Cancer affecting small bowel (or small intestine) is very rare.
• Anal : cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells are formed in tissue in the anus. Anal cancer usually occurs in two areas: where the anal canal meets the rectum or only in the skin

Symptoms of Gastrointestinal Cancer –

Symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer vary, depending on the type of cancer. Symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain, tenderness, or discomfort
• Change in bowel habits, such as frequency or consistency or shape
• Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
• Bloating
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea/vomiting
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fatigue

These are common symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer, best gastrointestinal cancer surgeon in South Mumbai but there are more symptoms that relate specifically to each type.

What Are the Risk Factors for Gastrointestinal Cancer?

We don’t know the cause of many types of gastrointestinal cancer, but risk factors for gastrointestinal cancer vary among the different types. They include:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Increasing age
• Diet high in animal fat
• Diet containing high amounts of salted, cured, or poorly preserved foods
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Obesity