Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are on the rise — and the Midwest is being hit especially hard. In Illinois, the rates of colorectal, esophageal, pancreatic and stomach cancer exceed the national average. Wisconsin also faces elevated rates of esophageal and pancreatic cancers. These higher incidence rates, as well as an alarming increase in younger people being diagnosed under the age of 50, underscores the urgency of expert, personalized care delivered at lifesaving speed. If you’ve been diagnosed with a gastrointestinal cancer, you deserve a clinical team you can trust — and a treatment plan that gives you confidence and clarity.
Serving patients in Illinois, Wisconsin and the surrounding areas, the Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancer Center at City of Hope® Chicago provides leading-edge gastrointestinal cancer care for a wide range of cancer types that affect the digestive system, including:
- Colorectal cancer
- Stomach cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Liver cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Anal cancer
- Neuroendocrine tumors
- Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition
Our GI Cancer Center clinical team is committed to bringing innovative treatment options to every patient, with a care plan that is personalized to your individual diagnosis and health goals. Powered by our world-renowned, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Southern California, our expert, compassionate care is founded on the latest research findings and treatment options.
GI Cancer Care at Our Chicago-Area Hospital
If you choose to treat at City of Hope, you will be surrounded by a multidisciplinary team of GI cancer experts — including medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, interventional gastroenterologists and radiologists, pathologists and supportive care team members — who collaborate across specialties to tailor your treatment plan to your needs and goals, help address side effects and monitor your progress throughout your cancer journey. Your dedicated team of physicians and supportive care specialists will meet regularly to review your progress and ensure you receive the most effective treatment possible, delivered with compassion and respect.
Colon Cancer Screenings in Illinois
In addition to expert care for GI cancers, we also offer colonoscopies at our hospital in Lake County, with appointments often available within as little as one week.
Learn what gastrointestinal cancer is and how it’s treated with this video featuring Edward Kaplan, M.D., medical oncologist at City of Hope® Cancer Care North Shore.
What Sets Our Chicago GI Cancer Program Apart?
Our GI Cancer Center offers a wide range of advanced diagnostic treatment options that allow us to target your cancer right down to your DNA, conveniently all located under the same roof, including:
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), a procedure that combines an endoscopy and an ultrasound to capture images of the digestive system and is sometimes used as a treatment approach for certain cancers
- Neuroendocrine experts experienced in diagnosing and treating neuroendocrine tumors, which can form in the nervous system or hormonal glands and may affect the digestive tract
- Hepatic artery infusion (HAI) therapy, which may allow chemotherapy drugs to be directed specifically at the liver when colorectal cancer has spread there
- Advanced GI cancer surgeries, including hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and the Whipple procedure
- Interventional radiology procedures, including pulsed electric-field ablation, which can target small, difficult-to-reach tumors and boost your body’s response to immunotherapy treatment
- Genetic counseling and testing, to help determine whether you have any inherited genetic mutations that may increase your or your family’s risk of developing certain types of GI cancers
- Precision medicine options, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy, which are often identified through genomic testing
- Clinical trial options, which may involve new drugs and leading-edge treatment options before they become widely available
- Supportive care services, such as nutritional and emotional support and pain management, to help you better manage the physical and mental side effects of cancer treatment
Our Chicago-area hospital offers a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment program for Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition often associated with long-term acid reflux. If cancer develops, our gastroenterology team provides a comprehensive screening program and rapid treatment options.
Our Chicago-Area GI Cancer Center Recognitions
At our hospital in Lake County, Illinois, we combine deep expertise with focused specialization across the full spectrum of GI cancers. Our unwavering, disease-specific commitment is evident at every stage of your care journey and is also reflected in our national reputation for excellence in GI cancer outcomes, quality and safety. Our cancer center is recognized as:
- A Quality Endoscopy Unit Honoree by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, for our safe and high-quality endoscopic care for gastrointestinal diseases
- Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer for nearly four decades, recognizing our excellence in cancer care
- A Radiation Program of Excellence by the American Society of Radiation Oncology’s APEx program for safe and high-quality radiation therapy
Our Chicago Gastrointestinal Cancer Experts
The GI cancer team at City of Hope Chicago includes interventional gastroenterologists, surgeons with expertise in advanced and minimally invasive techniques, radiation therapy and chemotherapy experts, medical oncologists, and supportive care specialists. Our physicians and clinical team members prioritize clear communication to ensure you feel empowered to make confident, well-informed decisions about your care.
Meet our GI cancer team:
Dr. David B. Stewart, Sr. is chief of surgery and a colorectal surgeon at City of Hope Chicago in Zion, IL, specializing in rectal and colon cancer surgery.
Dr. Vashi uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal tumors and help reduce cancer-related symptoms.
Dr. Mahdavian helps diagnose and treat patients with pancreatic, stomach, bile duct, colon, rectal and esophageal cancers. He is an expert in endoscopic approaches.
Dr. Kaplan has more than three decades of experience providing care for all types of cancer-related disorders, including those of the breast, kidney, bladder and others, and has a special interest in gastrointestinal malignancies.
As president of the medical staff at City of Hope Chicago, Dr. Khan provides leadership to our Illinois medical staff, guides protocols, ensures standard-of-care guidelines are consistently met and exceeded, and helps recruit high-quality physicians.
Dr. Halabi is highly skilled in minimally invasive, advanced techniques and technologies for gynecologic and gastrointestinal cancers, including cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
Dr. Li treats a wide range of conditions, specializing in complex gastrointestinal cancers, soft tissue disease and hepato-pancreato-biliary conditions and using advanced and minimally invasive techniques.
Make an Appointment With Our Chicago-Area Gastrointestinal Team
If you have recently been diagnosed with a GI cancer, are seeking a second opinion or wish to make an appointment to determine whether colorectal cancer screening is appropriate for you, call us at 877-524-4673.