Gastrointestinal Cancer

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is a national leader in treating gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, stomach (gastric), hereditary diffuse gastric cancer, pancreatic, liver, bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma), gallbladder, colon, rectal and anal cancer. We work in close collaboration with the MUSC Health Digestive Disease Center, rated highly for many years for the treatment of these diseases by U.S. News & World Report.

Though they are all part of the digestive system, each of these cancers is distinct. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with one of these cancers, then a gastrointestinal cancer specialist who understands their differences can be your best guide through your treatment choices. Our specialists work in multidisciplinary teams that include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, nurse coordinators, an oncology dietitian and researchers in the lab.

Our Next-Day Access program for stomach and hepato-pancreato-biliary cancers means that you can start working with your team almost immediately. Our team’s goal is to ensure you receive the highest quality, most up-to-date care tailored to your needs.

Find a Provider

For Appointments 843-792-9300

Participate in a Study

High Performing Hospital | University Medical Center | US News & World Report 2024-2025 | Colon Cancer Surgery

In good hands

You know you're in good hands at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Here, you have access to the latest innovations in cancer treatment, including clinical trials, advanced surgical techniques, support services and survivorship planning. You can rest easy knowing we hold national rankings for cancer care and take a leadership role in cancer research and prevention.

The Hollings difference

a doctor in a white coat in an exam room chats with a patient while a nurse working at a computer station looks over and smiles

Next-Day Access

For patients with certain abdominal cancers, we offer next-day access to our board-certified surgeons so you can discuss a treatment plan as soon as possible.

3-D transparent rendering of internal organs with the colon in red

Schedule a Colonoscopy

Screening for colon cancer is recommended for anyone over age 45. If you have a family history or are at increased risk, earlier screenings may be necessary.

group photo of doctors, genetic counselor, dietitian, psychologist and nurse practitioner

HDGC Clinic

A multidisciplinary team of specialists at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center focuses on managing care for people at risk of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer.

“ Dr. George's willingness to talk to us was all the reassurance I needed. So I canceled all the appointments that my mom had set up at all the other hospitals. And I was like, ‘Something is telling me that this is where I'm supposed to be. And he's the doctor I need.’ ”

Adriel Nutter, colon cancer survivor
Adriel's story

“ The doctors explained the plan vividly; they were exacting and very thorough. I knew the path that we were following, and I knew what we had to do. ”

Mike Stelzer, esophageal cancer survivor
Mike's story

“ This disease is 100% preventable if you get screened and know the signs and symptoms. I let my symptoms go on for so long because I thought this was predominantly diagnosed in older men. ”

Lara Lambert, rectal cancer survivor
Lara's story

Treatments for gastrointestinal cancers

At Hollings, our gastrointestinal cancer specialists understand that your situation is unique and that you deserve a specially tailored plan based on your needs.

Our treatment options include:

TomoTherapy^® Hi-Art^® Treatment System

This highly accurate radiation therapy allows the radiation oncologist to image and treat you in the same setting, minimizing toxicity.

CT Colography

A screening alternative to the traditional colonoscopy, the procedure uses a reconstructed CT scan to view the colon.

Endoscopic Ultrasound

This technology is used to determine how advanced a gastrointestinal, lung or esophageal cancer is. Hollings has one of the world’s most renowned endoscopic ultrasound facilities.

Narrow Band Imaging

Narrow band imaging uses green and blue light wavelengths to produce images with more contrasting detail. This allows doctors to more easily see clumps of capillaries, which can be an indicator of cancer.

Y-90 Radioembolization for Liver Tumors

Hollings is one of only three South Carolina facilities offering y-90 radioembolization. In this procedure, microspheres (tiny balls) containing the radioactive element yttrium-90 are injected into an artery feeding the tumor.

These tiny spheres then travel into the tumor’s blood supply, where they get stuck in the capillaries and deliver radiation to a localized area, targeting the tumor and sparing healthy tissue. We have more experience with this technique than any other program in the state. This offers an outpatient treatment alternative if you have few other available options.

Endoscopic Mucosal Resection

A minimally invasive technique for removing superficial tumors with the use of an endoscope.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Hollings surgical oncologists now use a laparoscope positioned lower in the pelvic area to avoid the colostomies of the past.

Pancreas Chemotherapy Protocol

This leading-edge treatment developed here at Hollings has a 36% success rate in making non-operable pancreatic tumors operable.

Refer a gastrointestinal cancer patient

To refer a gastrointestinal cancer patient to Hollings, please call the appropriate patient referral coordinator:

Shanda Bowman (esophagus/liver/stomach) – 843-985-0578
Tosha Lockett (colorectal/bile duct/gallbladder) – 843-876-4098
Stacey Collins (pancreas) – 843-876-2313

Nurse navigator support

Our gastrointestinal cancer nurse navigators, Sara Sneed, BSN, RN (colorectal), and Anthony DeMeo, MSN, RN (hepatobiliary/pancreas/stomach), will help you understand what to expect during treatment and answer questions you may have.

Clinical trials for gastrointestinal cancer

As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, we firmly believe that clinical trials are an important part of cancer care. Clinical trials show us whether new treatments work better than existing treatments. That’s important for future patients. But clinical trials are also important for current patients, because they offer the possibility of early access to new therapies or protocols that could become the standard-of-care in the future.

We offer a variety of gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials, including trials developed by researchers here at Hollings, industry trials and trials organized by other cancer centers. Some trials focus on new therapies, while others test new ideas for supportive care or screening. Learn more about clinical trials at Hollings and see our current gastrointestinal cancer clinical trials and trials for specific types of gastrointestinal cancer:

Hollings is also a member of NRG Oncology and the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology. These cooperative groups organize multi-institution cancer clinical trials that happen across the country. Through membership in these groups, Hollings is able to offer a wider range of clinical trials.

Ask your doctor if there is a clinical trial that fits your needs.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention and Screenings

Colonoscopies

Catching gastrointestinal cancer early is key to improved outcomes. Many digestive cancers may present with no or mild symptoms, which makes routine screenings critical. Colorectal cancer is becoming more common among people under the age of 50.

Hollings offers you preventative screenings like colonoscopies, which are recommended for anyone over the age of 45. If you have an increased risk or a family history of colorectal cancer, earlier screenings may be necessary.

Hereditary Cancer Clinic

Some genetic mutations that run in families can put people at higher risk of certain types of cancer, like pancreatic, colon or stomach cancer.

The Hollings Hereditary Cancer Clinic provides a centralized location to coordinate and manage risk management for people with these cancer-causing genetic mutations.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Research

Our team of doctors and researchers are leading the way in gastrointestinal research to help save lives around the world. Areas of focus include examining differences among people when it comes to diagnosis and survival, looking at reasons behind early onset colorectal cancer and looking at ways to reduce the burden of tobacco use in South Carolina.

Recent projects include:

Exploring ways to make colorectal cancer more susceptible to immunotherapy.
Developing miniature human colons with immune systems to better study diseases like colon cancer and inflammatory bowel disease.
Identifying a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.

In addition, Hollings’ dedicated Colon Transdisciplinary Cancer Team and Pancreatic Transdisciplinary Cancer Team bring together expertise from different disciplines in basic and clinical research for monthly meetings to collaborate on ongoing gastrointestinal cancer research.

Our team works in close collaboration with the MUSC Health Digestive Disease Center, rated highly for many years for the treatment of these disorders.

Meet the team

Dr. Katie Schmitt guides a patient doing a physical therapy exercise with a metal bar

Support from start to finish

We pride ourselves on our holistic approach to cancer care. We offer you many resources to help you throughout your cancer journey, including financial counseling, physical therapy, nutrition services, and support groups.

Patient Resources