GI Cancer Surgery — Oesophagus, Stomach & Small Bowel

What it covers

Oesophageal (food pipe), stomach (gastric) and small bowel cancers

The goal

Complete oncological clearance — removing the tumour with clear margins

Planning

Staging first; every case reviewed by a multidisciplinary tumour board

Where

Apollo Hospitals, Sarjapur Road, Bengaluru

Warning signs worth evaluating

• Progressive difficulty swallowing, or food sticking
• Persistent indigestion-like discomfort, early fullness after small meals
• Unintended weight loss, loss of appetite
• Vomiting blood, or black tarry stools
• Unexplained anaemia (low haemoglobin)

These symptoms have many non-cancer causes — but persistence is the signal for evaluation, usually starting with endoscopy. Early assessment helps guide care.

Staging before decisions

Once a cancer is confirmed, staging — scans and tests mapping exactly what and where — comes before any treatment decision. Sometimes surgery is first; sometimes chemotherapy comes before surgery to shrink the tumour. The sequence matters as much as the operation, and it is decided by a multidisciplinary tumour board, never one doctor alone.

The surgery

Operations include oesophagectomy (food pipe), gastrectomy — partial or total (stomach) — and small bowel resections, with removal of the associated lymph nodes as oncological principles require. Minimally invasive approaches are used where oncologically appropriate. Digestive continuity is restored during the same operation, and eating is rehabilitated in a structured way afterwards.

Frequently asked questions

Can stomach cancer be operated?

Many stomach cancers are treatable with surgery — partial or total gastrectomy with lymph node clearance — depending on stage. Staging and tumour-board review decide the plan.

What are the symptoms of food pipe cancer?

Progressive difficulty swallowing, food sticking, weight loss and regurgitation are the common warning signs — persistent symptoms need endoscopic evaluation.

Is chemotherapy given before surgery?

Sometimes — for several GI cancers, chemotherapy before surgery improves the operation's effectiveness. The sequence is decided by the tumour board based on staging.

Can I eat normally after stomach surgery?

Eating is rehabilitated in a structured way after surgery — portion patterns change, especially after total gastrectomy, and dietitian-guided adaptation is part of care.

This page provides general information and is not a substitute for a consultation. Treatment decisions are individual and made after a surgical evaluation.