- Esophagus or Food pipe: A tube which connects mouth to stomach. Food/Water goes through this pipe and reached the stomach for further processing.
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Squamous cell carcinoma
- Gastric or Stomach: A reservoir where the actual digestion of food starts by breaking into small parts. This is the organ which stores strong acid i.e. hydrochloric acid, this aids in digestion. After the processing the food proceed towards small intestine.
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Lymphoma, Gastrointestinal Tumor (GIST), Carcinoid
- Small Intestine or Small bowel: A long tube which runs in our abdomen and transfers food/liquids from stomach to the large intestine and helps in digestion. It has 3 parts, starting with duodenum followed by jejunum and ends with ileum. Food from stomach reaches here for further processing. Some enzymes get secreted here which help in digestion
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Gastrointestinal Tumor (GIST), Carcinoid
- Liver: One of the biggest organs in the body which helps in metabolizing drugs, digestion of food, remove toxins from body
Types of cancer: Hepatocellular cancer (Hepatoma), Mixed Cholangiocarcinoma-Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Biliary Tract: A tract which starts in liver and drains bile into small intestine. This bile produces some juices which help in digestion of some food components, mainly fat.
Types of cancer: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (affecting biliary tract within the liver), Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (affecting biliary tract outside the liver), rarely, Neuroendocrine tumor/cancer.
- Gall Bladder: A sac which helps in storing biliary fluid coming from biliary tract in liver
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine tumor/cancer.
- Pancreas: An organ which again helps in digestion of food by secreting some digestive juices
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine tumor/cancer.
- Colon or Large bowel: Large soft tube which receives digested food/liquid from small intestine for final processing. This organ mainly helps in absorption of water and helps in making stools soft.
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine tumor/cancer.
- Rectum: A small tube which receives stool from large intestine and temporarily stores it before it comes out. This tube has the sphincters (lock) which help us in controlling the stools from coming out.
Types of cancer: Adenocarcinoma, Neuroendocrine tumor/cancer.
- Anus or Anal Canal: A small area which is visible from outside from where the stool comes out. This has the last sphincter to control the stools.
Types of cancer: Squamous cell carcinoma.
Diagnostic: List the tests generally required for the diagnosis
Treatment: Surgery, Chemotherapy (including Targeted therapy and Immunotherapy),
Radiotherapy, proton therapy
Physical: Home based care, Help in hospital visits, Activities of daily living.
Social: Psychological support, peer groups.
GLOBOCAN 2020 data