Upper gastrointestinal or UGI cancers include cancers of the oesophagus and stomach (oesophago-gastro or OG), cancers of the pancreas, liver and biliary system hHepato-pancreatobiliary or HPB).

Go to the NHS website for more information about:

  • Stomach cancer
  • Oesophageal cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Liver cancer

The following charities also provide more information and support:

  • Macmillan.com (onsite walk-in centre at ESH)
  • OliveTree
  • GUTS UK
  • Liver Cancer UK
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Pancreatic cancer UK

The Trust has facilities to investigate and diagnose upper GI cancers. You will have your tests and investigations at either Crawley Hospital or East Surrey Hospital. Any treatment options will be referred on to specialists at Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford.

Your care will be provided by a group of experts called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). This is a group of doctors, nurses and other health professionals with expertise in a specific cancer. This team will discuss and manage your care and plan the treatment that’s best for you. Our team includes:

Consultant gastroenterologists

  • Dr Jonathan Stenner – MDT lead
  • Dr Panagiotis Stamoulos
  • Dr Gary Mackenzie
  • Dr Prayman Sattianayagum
  • Dr Monira Rahman
  • Dr Gayatri Chakrabarty

Consultant Upper GI Surgeons

  • Mr Ajay Belgaumkar
  • Miss Kirstin Carswell

HPB Consultant surgeons based at RSCH

  • Mr Timothy Pencavel
  • Mr Rajesh Kumar

Consultant oncologists

  • Dr Sebastian Cummins (Located at Royal Surrey County Hospital/ St Luke’s Centre)

CNS

  • Tina Delacruz

Cancer services

  • Gemma Pettitt (MDT coordinator)

Your first appointment may be either:

  • A face to face appointment
  • Phone appointment
  • Endoscopy procedure
  • Diagnostic imaging (CT scan)

This will depend upon how your referral is clinically assessed by our team.

You may have tests and investigations at a later date.

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your general health and may wish to examine you. They will then discuss with you the tests/investigations they recommend.

You may receive reassurance and a non-cancer diagnosis shortly after your endoscopy procedure via a gastroscopy report, but if this is not possible then we will arrange for you to receive your test results and possible diagnosis, either by phone call, letter or face to face, as appropriate.

At this appointment we will discuss with you what happens next, including any other tests you need as well as possible treatments.

If you receive a cancer diagnosis you will be introduced to a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) who will be your key worker during your care. This may happen at your first appointment or at a later date by telephone. They will support you holistically, including helping you understand your diagnosis and treatment options, any financial difficulties you may incur and offer support for your family. You will also be given written information or web page links about the type of cancer you have, your treatment options, and other sources of support, such as Macmillan UK.

For Oesophago-Gastro (OG) cancer

  • Blood tests – Routine blood test and tumour markers
  • CT scan of your chest, abdomen (tummy) and pelvis with contrast
  • Endoscopy Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD) +/- biopsies.

Further staging investigations may be needed, such as:

For Hepato-pancreatobiliary (HPB) cancer

  • Blood tests – Routine blood test and tumour markers
  • CT scan of your chest, abdomen (tummy) and pelvis with contrast
  • Ultrasound
  • MRI scan

Further staging investigations may be needed, such as:

Your care and treatment will depend on the type cancer you have, where it is, how far it has advanced (the stage) and your overall general health condition. Once a treatment plan has been decided, we will refer you on to the specialists at Royal Surrey County Hospital tertiary centre. You will have a discussion with the surgeon and/or oncologist about your possible treatment options.

Our team of specialists will review the results of your tests and investigations at an upper GI cancer meeting. Your care usually includes one or more, or a combination of treatments.

For Oesophago-Gastro (OG) cancer

  • Chemotherapy
  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy- Presurgical chemotherapy
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy- Post-surgical chemotherapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy- A combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy delivered together
  • Surgery
  • Active surveillance. This means monitoring the localised cancer rather than treating it straight away, so avoiding treatment unless there are signs your cancer may be growing.
  • Palliative care

For Hepato-pancreatobiliary (HPB) cancer

  • Chemotherapy
  • Neoadjuvant chemotherapy- Presurgical chemotherapy
  • Adjuvant chemotherapy- Post-surgical chemotherapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy- A combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy delivered together
  • Surgery
  • Active surveillance. This means monitoring the localised cancer rather than treating it straight away, so avoiding treatment unless there are signs your cancer may be growing.
  • Palliative care.

Non-clinical support

We have a team of patient pathway navigators who can help and support you through your diagnostic journey.

The phone lines are open between 8am and 6.45pm on Monday to Friday and Saturday mornings between 8am to 1pm: 01737 231714

CNS team contact details

Tina Delacruz

01737 768511 ex 2502

Out of hours

Contact your GP, or if you have just come out of hospital, contact the ward for advice, contact number will be given to you with your discharge paper work, or by calling the main switchboard on 01737 768511. In an emergency, call 111 or go to your nearest Emergency Department (ED).

Cancer care map

Cancer care map is an online resource to help people living with cancer find care and support services in their local area, anywhere in the UK. The website is run by cancer charity, The Richard Dimbleby Cancer Fund.