Why Choose Us for Gastrointestinal Cancer Treatment
Huntsman Cancer Institute provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for all gastrointestinal cancers. As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Mountain West, we offer access to the latest treatments available鈥攊ncluding groundbreaking clinical trials鈥攁nd the best care possible.
Our specialty brings together doctors and scientists who work side by side to turn scientific discoveries into better outcomes for you. We are a top-ranked destination care center for liver transplants and neuroendocrine tumor care, with nationally recognized expertise in rare and complex gastrointestinal cancers. We are also one of the few centers nationwide with a dedicated program for early-onset colorectal cancer, leading the way in care for patients diagnosed before age 50.
鈥淚 will never forget the love I received from Huntsman Cancer Institute."
Amber Schick
Gastrointestinal cancer patient
Specialized Treatments
Huntsman Cancer Institute鈥檚 Gastrointestinal Cancers Program specializes in personalized treatment plans, working closely with each patient to decide which of the following treatments or combination of treatments is best for them:
- Surgery: We specialize in expert surgical care for the digestive system, offering the latest, minimally invasive options.
- Radiation Therapy: We use cutting-edge radiation technologies to target cancer cells effectively.
- Chemotherapy: We deliver powerful drugs to kill cancer cells or stop their growth.
- Targeted Therapy: We offer advanced drugs that block specific genetic changes in cancer cells, improving patient outcomes and minimizing side effects.
- Immunotherapy: We harness the body鈥檚 immune system to fight cancer cells.
- Theranostics: We use targeted radioactive drugs to both diagnose and treat certain gastrointestinal cancers with precision.
We also have a High Risk GI Cancer Clinic to provide personalized screening and prevention strategies for people at higher risk of gastrointestinal cancers.
Our Expertise
Our world-renowned experts in multidisciplinary care treat and diagnose all types of gastrointestinal cancers and conditions:
Patient Care Philosophy
We believe no one should face cancer alone. Our dedicated and world-renowned doctors, nurses, and medical staff are at the forefront of patient-centered care. We treat the whole person, not just their cancer.
Each day, our medical, surgical, and radiation oncologists work together across disciplines to create and coordinate treatment plans for every patient. We understand cancer is a complex disease. That is why we use a team approach that includes social workers and support groups, as well as wellness and integrative health services such as acupuncture, massage, creative arts, and more.
Find a Gastrointestinal Cancer Doctor
Gastrointestinal Cancer Research
Huntsman Cancer Institute is a leader in gastrointestinal cancer research, working to improve how we detect and treat these diseases. We are at the forefront of national research efforts like the ColoCare Study and are identifying new ways to prevent cancer for those with genetic mutations that increase their risk of gastrointestinal cancer.
We have created groundbreaking clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancers, including the development of promising new targeted therapies for patients with advanced colorectal cancer. With the largest Phase 1 clinical trials program in the Mountain West, Huntsman Cancer Institute offers exclusive access to cutting-edge therapies for gastrointestinal cancers.
Clinical Trials
Make an appointment with a gastrointestinal cancer specialist
To make an appointment with a gastrointestinal cancer specialist, fill out our appointment form or call 801-587-7000. Our team will determine if your insurance covers treatment at Huntsman Cancer Institute or if you need a referral from a primary care doctor.
External providers can refer a patient using the online referral form or by calling 801-587-7000 to speak to a patient registration specialist.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Basics
The symptoms of gastrointestinal cancers vary depending on the type and stage of cancer. However, there are several symptoms that are common to many gastrointestinal cancers:
- Abdominal pain
- Appetite loss
- Bloating
- Blood in stool
- Fatigue
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Jaundice
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unexplained weight loss
Many other health problems can also cause these signs. If you have any of these signs, see your doctor as soon as possible.
Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you are sure to get cancer. It means your chances are higher than the average person鈥檚. Talk with your doctor to learn more about your cancer risk.
These are risk factors for gastrointestinal cancers:
- Being male
- Increasing age
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Having a personal history of diabetes or gastrointestinal cancers
- Having a family history of gastrointestinal cancers
Learn more about ways to prevent cancer and about family history and genetic counseling.
Doctors use these tests to diagnose various types of gastrointestinal cancers:
Physical Exam & History
A health care provider examines your body for signs of disease. Your personal health habits, past illnesses, and symptoms help guide the exam.
Laboratory Tests
Through testing body tissues, blood, urine, or other substances in the body, your health care team can check to see how the digestive tract and abdominal organs are functioning. They can also look for substances that cells produce when cancer is present.
Biopsy
The health care provider removes cell or tissue samples so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.
Imaging Tests
Using dyes, X-rays, magnets, radio waves and/or computer technology, your health care provider can create detailed images of internal organs.
Other Procedures
Some procedures, including an endoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and a colonoscopy, examine parts of the gastrointestinal tract for polyps or tumors.
Cancer stages show whether cancer has spread within or around the digestive tract and abdominal organs to other parts of the body. Cancer spreads in the body in three ways: through tissue, the lymph system, or the blood.
Staging details depend on the specific type of gastrointestinal cancer.
