Division of Solid Tumor Oncology
Gastrointestinal Oncology Program
The Gastrointestinal Oncology program is led by Steven J. Cohen, MD. Our program, focuses on providing state of the art treatments for patients with a variety of primary gastrointestinal cancer types, including pancreatic cancer, liver and biliary cancers, colon and rectal cancers, esophageal cancer, stomach cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors. Driving our treatments options is a multidisciplinary team comprising specialists from medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, and interventional radiology. At the forefront of our clinical care is translational research. We desire to bring the best understanding of how to prevent, treat, and provide advice from relevant discoveries here at Jefferson and across the nation to our patients. Furthermore, our program offers innovative supportive services to address the complex psychosocial of our patients.
Gastrointestinal Cancer Facts
Gastrointestinal cancer is malignancy of the digestive system – including the esophagus, stomach, gallbladder and bile duct, biliary liver, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum and anus.
The number of new gastrointestinal cancer cases occurring in the United States annually totals more than 250,000. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, with an estimated 105,000 colon cancer and 40,000 rectal cancer diagnoses in the United States each year. Pancreatic and stomach cancer diagnoses each year total 32,000 and 22,000 cases respectively.
Benign tumors are not cancerous. In the GI tract benign tumors, called polyps, may form. Because of the potential for these benign tumors to become cancerous, polyps should be removed.