Explore Our Gastrointestinal Cancer Services

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer can affect any organ in the digestive tract, including the esophagus, liver, stomach, colon, rectum or anus. These conditions can impact your daily life and future plans, but you’ll find hope for healing at Memorial Cancer Institute.

We are a distinguished community-based cancer center offering the highest level of care. You have access to expertise and innovative treatments you might not expect to find in South Florida. Our compassionate team delivers personalized care and support that helps you feel cared for every step of the way.

Types of Digestive System Cancers We Treat

We diagnose and treat a wide range of cancers affecting the gastrointestinal tract, including:

Upper GI Cancers

These cancers affect organs of the upper gastrointestinal system and include:

• Esophagus
• Liver and bile ducts (cholangiocarcinoma)
• Pancreas
• Small intestine
• Stomach

Lower GI Cancers

Cancers affecting the lower gastrointestinal system, including:

• Anus
• Appendix
• Colon
• Rectum

Other GI Cancers We Treat

Our expertise also includes rare and complex tumors affecting the GI tract, such as:

• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) can form in any digestive organ but typically start in the stomach or small intestine.
• Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can start in the endocrine (hormone-producing) system, pancreas or gastrointestinal tract and spread to other organs, including the liver.
• Metastatic cancer spreads to the digestive organs, such as metastatic cancer to the liver, from other areas of the body.
• Peritoneal Surface Malignancy is cancer that forms in the thin layer of tissue (peritoneum) lining the abdomen

Surgical Cancer Treatment

Accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer, our surgical oncologists are often your front-line cancer-fighting team. Advances in surgical cancer treatment make it possible for many tumors to be safely and effectively removed, sometimes with minimally invasive techniques (like VATS and robotic surgery) and less recovery time. 

Combined with chemotherapy, radiation and other cancer treatments, surgery can offer improved outcomes for patients with:

• Advanced Endoscopy (Gastro)
• Colon and Rectal Cancer
• Peritoneal Surface Malignancy

Our surgeons participate in multidisciplinary clinics, where experts across all pertinent specialties see patients simultaneously. These meetings provide a unique opportunity for patients to be seen by a broad spectrum of specialists in "real time."

These clinics also allow our surgeons to consult with experts in other specialties – including radiology, pathology and medical oncology – through weekly tumor boards to provide patients with the complete continuum of care.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Care: Why Choose Memorial Cancer Institute?

Ours is among a few cancer programs that maintain the Florida Department of Health’s Cancer Center of Excellence designation. It means we consistently exceed service standards, and you can count on us for comprehensive, patient- and family-centered care. We help more people achieve exceptional outcomes — even for rare and complex cancers.

Highlights of our program include:

• Renowned expertise: You receive services from some of the nation’s leading cancer doctors and surgeons. We hold leadership positions in professional societies, publish research and deliver advanced medical training. This level of expertise draws patients from across the region and parts of South America. Meet our team.
• Exceptional outcomes: We regularly treat the most complex cases and maintain results on par with or better than other leading cancer programs. Our patients consistently feel better, spend less time in the hospital and avoid complications.
• Friendly team: We give you the individual attention you deserve, making tests and treatments a little less stressful. We pride ourselves in knowing our patients as individuals, including their family members, hobbies and treatment goals.
• Minimally invasive surgery: We often remove large and advanced cancers through small incisions. We may use the anus (transanal approach) instead of incisions to access lower gastrointestinal cancers.
• Innovative therapies: For cancers affecting the abdomen lining, you may benefit from hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). Medical oncology options include targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Radiation therapy innovations include lutetium Lu177 dotatate (Lutathera®) for neuroendocrine tumors. Lutathera is a substance that binds to tumor cells and destroys them.
• Access to clinical trials: We are advancing digestive system cancer care through clinical trials, some of which are sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. These efforts mean you can receive emerging therapies years before they become widely available.
• Coordinated care: Our multidisciplinary approach involves services from multiple specialists, including surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists. When we refer you to another team member, their office calls you promptly to schedule an appointment.