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UpperGISurgery.com |
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Oesophago-gastric cancers are a challenging conditions to treat. Many patients are treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Some carefully selected patients with very early tumours now may be managed without major surgery. Northern Ireland has followed practice elsewhere and all patients are managed by a network of specialists with surgery centralised in Belfast. Successful treatment necessitates early detection and thorough assessment before treatment planning. Recent advances has seen increasing utilisation of minimal access “key hole” techniques which potentially reduces the impact of major surgery whilst still allowing radical treatment.
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Oesophageal and gastric cancer |
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Guidelines have identified “alarm” symptoms which should be investigated urgently
Difficulty swallowing Recurrent vomiting Loss of appetite Weight loss Evidence of blood loss; anaemia, melena (black motions)
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