Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer

Screening and genetic counseling

Some cancers, such as colorectal cancer, can be found in early or even precancerous stages through screening techniques such as colonoscopy. NewYork-Presbyterian provides screening tests and genetic counseling for people whose family medical history suggests an increased risk of digestive cancer.

Advanced treatment for every type of digestive cancer

We offer:

• Minimally invasive treatments
• Reconstructive digestive tract surgery
• State-of-the-art chemotherapy drugs and targeted agents
• Advanced radiation therapy
• Interventional oncology techniques to stage cancer and relieve obstructions

Advanced technologies and techniques

We are at the forefront of developing or adopting new endoscopic and surgical techniques for treating gastrointestinal cancers.

• Through the Minimally Invasive New Technologies (MINT) program, our surgeons are redefining intestinal surgery with the new endoluminal surgical platform — one that is simpler and less invasive.
• Our academic medical centers were the first in New York City to perform both left and right fully robotic hepatectomies using advanced instruments.
• Our surgeons pioneered combined endoscopic-laparoscopic surgery (CELS) to remove complex or hard-to-reach polyps in the colon.
• Our advanced endoscopists pair upper GI endoscopy with optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the surveillance and diagnosis of esophageal cancer and its precursor disorder, Barrett’s esophagus. We offer a range of minimally invasive endoscopic techniques, including endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), endoscopic submucosal dissection, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and cryoablation.
• NewYork-Presbyterian was an early adopter of heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to treat abdominal cancers, including stomach and colon cancers.
• NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the few centers with intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) to target advanced colorectal tumors.
• We are one of only a handful of centers worldwide able to perform continent ileostomy procedures to avoid an external ostomy appliance.

Special expertise in advanced disease

We offer a specialized, multidisciplinary program for patients whose cancer has metastasized to other organs. We are also pioneering a program to treat the after-effects of complicated surgeries, such as incontinence problems following colorectal surgery.

Compassionate care

To support your quality of life during your journey with cancer, we offer palliative care, which includes services such as pain management. Our nutritionists, social workers, rehabilitation therapists, and palliative care experts will help you and your loved ones address the effects of cancer and its treatment — both physical and emotional.

Specialists in every area

We provide access to all resources at our top-ranked academic medical centers — including specialists from various areas who collaborate with our cancer experts to provide comprehensive care.

Clinical trials of promising new treatments

With two major academic medical centers, NewYork-Presbyterian physicians lead and participate in clinical trials for all digestive cancers. These trials offer access to the latest investigational therapies. Our scientists are also studying the intricacies of digestive cancer development in order to create better therapies.