CHICAGO — A new Chicago-area clinic will provide a full spectrum of care for patients with gastrointestinal cancers, and for patients who are at a risk for or are recovering from these cancers. The Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Clinic for Gastrointestinal Cancers at Rush University Medical Center employs experts in gastroenterology, medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology and psychosocial oncology as well as nutrition and genetics.
The clinic provides preventive services, treatment and diagnostic services for all types of gastrointestinal cancers including those of the colon, rectum, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, anus, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver.
“Our team works with each patient to create an individualized treatment plan that offers the latest diagnostic capabilities as well as leading-edge treatment options,” said clinical director Sohrab Mobarhan, MD. “At the end of a thorough meeting, patients walk away knowing that there is a well-defined treatment plan designed to meet their specific needs.”
Preventive and screening services include colonoscopies to prevent colon and rectal cancer, upper endoscopies to screen for esophageal cancer and Barrett’s esophagus, and radiofrequency ablation therapy to prevent esophageal cancer. In addition, genetic counseling, in which family histories are reviewed, and testing are also available to determine an individual’s risk for gastrointestinal cancers.
The clinic has access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services, including interventional endoscopy, radiological testing, multi-detector CT imaging, positron emission tomography (PET), MRIs, image-guided radiotherapy, electron and electron-arc therapy, interstitial brachytherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy.
As part of the comprehensive nature of the clinic, a dedicated gastrointestinal cancer nurse is available to answer patient questions, coordinate all appointments, procedures and tests.
The center also assists patients and families with the psychological, emotional and spiritual effects of cancer. In partnership with the American Cancer Society, Rush offers a patient navigator to assess individual patient needs and provide information about available treatments, community services and programs.
Through Rush’s Cancer Integrative Medicine Program, patients have access to therapies that complement their medical treatments, such as acupuncture, biofeedback, nutritional and herbal counseling, massage and yoga.
The Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Clinic for Gastrointestinal Cancers was funded in part by a grant from the Coleman Foundation. In recognition of a $5 million grant, all of the medical center’s comprehensive cancer programs, or clinics, are named for The Coleman Foundation.
Source: The Coleman Foundation Comprehensive Clinic for Gastrointestinal Cancers