Gastrointestinal Cancer Specialist

Greater Houston Radiation Oncology

Radiation Oncologists located in North Houston, South Houston & Huntsville, TX

If you need help treating stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, or another type of gastrointestinal cancer, you can rely on the expertise of the Greater Houston Radiation Oncology team. At their two offices in Houston, Texas, and one in Huntsville, Texas, Kirk Kanady, MD, and Maria Sosa, MD, offer customized treatment plans and advanced radiation therapies to destroy cancer cells and improve your gastrointestinal health. If you have changes in your appetite or bowel function, schedule a gastrointestinal cancer screening online or call the Greater Houston Radiation Oncology office nearest you today.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Q & A

What is gastrointestinal cancer?

Your gastrointestinal tract extends from your mouth to your anus. This tract is responsible for digesting and eliminating the food you eat and extracting the nutrients you need to function.

Cancerous cells can develop anywhere in this tract and lead to gastrointestinal cancers like:

Anal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Stomach cancer
Colorectal cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Liver cancer

Your risk for developing gastrointestinal cancer increases as you get older. You may also be at increased risk for these types of cancer if you have a family history of the disease, or if you smoke or regularly consume alcohol.

If you have existing gastrointestinal issues, like diabetes, hepatitis, or diabetes, you may also be more likely to develop gastrointestinal cancer.

What are the symptoms of gastrointestinal cancer?

In many types of gastrointestinal cancer, you don’t develop noticeable symptoms until the tumor progresses.

If you have esophageal cancer, you may notice difficulty swallowing or experience pain when eating or drinking.

Stomach and colorectal cancer can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and changes in your appetite.

If cancer develops in your pancreas or liver, you may have abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and changes in your bowel function.

How is gastrointestinal cancer diagnosed?

The team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology offers advanced diagnostic testing to confirm or rule out different gastrointestinal cancers.

In addition to a review of your medical history and a physical exam, your provider may request imaging tests, like an ultrasound or positron emission tomography (PET) scan, to identify tumors and other abnormalities in your gastrointestinal tract.

To diagnose colorectal cancer, the Greater Houston Radiation Oncology team can perform a colonoscopy, a minimally invasive test that uses a specialized scope with an attached camera. The scope travels through your gastrointestinal tract, and the camera sends real-time images to an external monitor.

If a tumor is present, you may need a biopsy. This procedure involves removing a piece of tissue to test for cancerous cells.

How is gastrointestinal cancer treated?

Treating gastrointestinal cancer may involve radiation therapy to destroy cancerous cells with high-powered energy beams. The team at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology offers several types of radiation therapy, including:

Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D CRT)
Four-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (4D CRT)
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
RapidArc – Volumetric Arc Therapy
Image Guidance Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)

You may also need surgery to remove tumors and chemotherapy to kill the remaining cancerous cells after a surgical procedure.

If you need treatment for gastrointestinal cancer, schedule a consultation at Greater Houston Radiation Oncology. Call the office nearest you or book an appointment online today.

What we offer