Gastroesophageal Cancer Program
The Gastroesophageal Cancer Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital provides a broad range of treatment options and individualized care for every person diagnosed with gastroesophageal cancer, including esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and stomach cancer.
Care for patients with gastroesophageal cancers is delivered by an experienced, multispecialty team at Smilow Cancer Hospital with expertise across specialties essential to gastroesophageal cancer care, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, digestive diseases, palliative care, and pathology. Many patients see the medical oncology and surgical oncology teams together during a single visit, an integrated approach that ensures coordinated decision-making from the very start of their care journey.
Our Specialties
Medical Oncology
Through Yale Cancer Center, our robust portfolio of clinical trials gives patients access to the most promising new therapies before they become widely available. From the earliest stages of cancer to the most advanced diagnoses, our patients benefit from breakthrough treatments—including novel immunotherapy combinations and targeted therapies—that are redefining what is possible in gastroesophageal cancer care.
Surgical Oncology
A surgical oncology consultation is an essential early step in the care of gastroesophageal cancer. Surgeons contribute to accurate staging, help interpret imaging and pathology findings, and collaborate with medical and radiation oncologists to determine the best treatment plan, which may include surgery alone or surgery and chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of the two.
Many patients receive chemotherapy, radiation, or both before surgery—a process called neoadjuvant therapy—to shrink a tumor, improve surgical outcomes, and increase the likelihood of achieving a successful surgery. Advances in neoadjuvant therapies, including immunotherapy combinations, have expanded surgical options and, in some cases, enabled organ preservation, sparing patients from more extensive surgeries.
Yale Cancer Center is one of the few centers in the region that offers specialized treatment options for peritoneal metastases, including cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).
Early Detection, Screening, and Prevention
There is no routine screening system in the United States for gastric cancer, making awareness of personal risk factors critically important. Key risk factors include infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), ethnicity, diets high in smoked or salted foods, smoking, obesity, family history, and certain chronic stomach conditions.
Our Gastric Cancer Prevention and Screening Program is dedicated to changing the way gastroesophageal cancer is discovered through personalized risk assessment, targeted screening, H. pylori testing and treatment, and early detection initiatives.
Our digestive diseases experts also provide endoscopic evaluation and treatment for patients with early-stage disease, offering minimally invasive options that may avoid the need for more extensive surgery while preserving function and quality of life.
Supportive Care
Our specialists understand that outstanding patient care extends beyond cancer treatment. We offer robust supportive care services designed to help patients feel and function their best throughout treatment, including specialized support including the following:
- Nutrition services: We offer personalized dietary guidance throughout the care journey.
- Physical therapy and physiotherapy: Our experts help patients to rebuild strength, function, and resilience.
- Palliative care: In close collaboration with medical oncologists, we offer symptom management and quality-of-life support.
