Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Services

The Upper GI Cancer Team consists of Consultant Surgeons, Gastroenterologists, Oncologists, Radiologists, Pathologists, Clinical Nurse Specialists and Allied Health Professionals with specialist expertise and knowledge of Upper GI cancers.

The UGI team supports and cares for patients and families who are diagnosed with an Upper GI cancer.

Upper gastrointestinal cancers include:

  • Biliary system.
  • Liver
  • Oesophageal
  • Pancreatic
  • Small bowel
  • Stomach

The Upper GI team specialise in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with cancers of the upper GI tract including oesophagus (gullet/food pipe), stomach, pancreas, liver, gall bladder and biliary tree.

The management of Upper GI cancers depends on the presenting stage of disease and patient fitness.

The investigations and subsequent treatments can at first appear quite complex and daunting. From the point of referral, all patients are seen promptly by a member of the specialist team and each individual case will be presented and discussed within our Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings. Patients will be guided through the relevant tests and investigations and will be actively involved in decisions regarding their care.

Treatment

If you need surgery you may be able to have this by laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery which is less invasive and has a much quicker recovery time.

You may be referred by your GP to our outpatient department or directly to the endoscopy department depending on the circumstances. Your initial appointment or procedure may be with either a consultant or specialist nurse.

At this appointment your consultant may suggest certain investigations and procedures to help with your diagnosis.

Please click below for information on these procedures

Upper GI endoscopy

An Upper GI endoscopy sometimes known as a gastroscopy as is a procedure to look at the inside of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and duodenum.

This is a procedure which you can have as a day case under local anaesthetic or sedation and is done to look for the cause of symptoms in the upper abdomen or swallow discomfort and sometimes to apply treatment. It involves a flexible tube with a camera on the end being passed through the mouth and throat down the gullet into the stomach and into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum).

Scans

You may have a scans such as an ultrasound scan, MRI, CT or PET scans. These are commonly used and have minimal discomfort. These are important as they provide information about abnormalities inside the body that are not otherwise seen. If more complex x-ray procedures are required your consultant will explain what these involve.

Useful Links

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Cancer Research UK website

Cancer Research UK websiteCore: fighting gut and liver disease

Core: fighting gut and liver diseaseHeartburn Cancer Awareness and Support

Heartburn Cancer Awareness and SupportMacmillan Cancer Support

Macmillan Cancer SupportOchre: promoting awareness of oesophageal cancer

Ochre: promoting awareness of oesophageal cancer Oesophageal Patients Association

Pancreatic Cancer - if you can have surgery to remove the cancer

Pancreatic Cancer - Inoperable cancer