Upper Gastro-Intestinal (UGI) Cancers

Key Staff

Consultants

  •            Dr Sanjay Gupta gastroenterologist and Lead for Upper GI/HPB surgery
  •            Dr Zinu Philipose
  •            Dr Mike Mendal
  •            Dr NickDavison
  •            Dr Ashok  Iyer
  •            Dr Parth Paskaran (non core member) Tel: 02084013975

 

Surgeons

  •             Mr Matt Dunstan
  •             Mr Charis Kyriakides
  •             Mr Rhys Thomas
  •             Ms Serena Ceraldi

Nursing and support team  

  •             Suzanne Friday, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP)
  •             Zamaya Begum – Ali – UGI CNS
  •             Barra Abdul,  Macmillan Patient Support Officer   

Working hours: Monday-Friday 9.00 - 17.00

Tel : 020 8401 3000 Ext 4869   Email: ch-tr.uppergicancerteam@nhs.net 

 

About Upper Gastro-Intestinal (UGI) Cancer Service 

Upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer is a primary cancer of the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, duodenum and small bowel. This also covers GISTs (gastrointestinal stromal tumours).  

Hepatobiliary (HPB) is also included involving the pancreas, liver, bile duct and/or gall bladder

What are the tests to confirm the diagnosis?

If a GP refers you to a specialist because they think you could have cancer, you'll have tests to check for cancer  

They may need to do a series of tests to find out more about the cancer. They may need to undergo one or more of the following investigations:

  •             Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD) gastroscopy is a procedure where a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope is used to look inside the oesophagus (gullet), stomach and first part of the small intestine (duodenum).      Trans nasal endoscopy 
  •             Liver ultrasound scan
  •             CT (computerised tomography) scan      
  •             MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan    
  •             PET scan (positron emission tomography)
  •             Blood tests:They may need several blood tests to assess your general health. 
  •             Staging laparoscopy: Prior to curative surgery for oesophageal or gastric cancers you will need to undergo a staging laparoscopy. This is a key hole procedure done under a general anaesthetic and involves looking into the abdomen through tiny cuts. This allows the surgeon to look at the cancer and whether it has spread to other organs such as the liver and the surrounding lymph nodes 

It may take up a couple of weeks to complete these investigations. Should you have any concerns during this time please contact your clinical nurse specialist.

For more information on diagnostic test: Macmillan information: A - Z Diagnostic tests

 

What treatment are available?

The treatment for cancer depends on:

  •    The size of the cancer
  •    If it has spread to other parts of the body 
  •    Age and general health 

Patient may be offered a combination of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted medicines. Treatments are offered in collaboration with St George’s Hospital University NHS Trust and the Royal Marsden Hospital.      

Your specialist treatment team will:

  •    explain the treatments, the benefits and side effects
  •    work with you to make a treatment plan that's best for you
  •    help you to manage the side effects of treatment

 

If you have any questions or worries, you can talk to your specialist team.

Macmillan information: Making treatment decisions

Macmillan information: A - Z treatments - drugs

Macmillan information: After Treatment

 

Personalised Cancer Care

Personalised cancer care allows you to take an active role in the way your care is planned and delivered by identifying your concerns and support needs. It puts you in control of your care, with our help.

There are lots of things you can do to look after your own health during and after cancer treatment. Some of this can be done with the involvement of your clinical team, such as physical activity and dietary modifications Here  are the key elements of personalised care for our cancer patients: 

  •    Personalised Assessment and Care Planning
  •    Access to health and wellbeing information and support
  •    End of treatment summaries to support you with understanding and managing impacts of cancer– also shared with your GP so they can support you.
  •    Stratified Follow up when you have finished treatment or are living with cancer. 

The Personalised Cancer Care Guide for newly diagnosed patients at Croydon Health Services.

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Additional information and support

Macmillan information: When supporting someone with cancer