GBMC has a multidisciplinary team that focuses on GI oncology, using state-of-the-art technology for testing, surgery, and ongoing treatments. Sam Peraino, a patient of Dr. DiRocco's, joined the conversation to describe his experience receiving care at GBMC.
Several years ago, Sam was diagnosed with colon cancer when irregular cells were found during a routine colonoscopy. Sam had shown no symptoms and didn't have a family history of colorectal cancer, so this was an unexpected diagnosis. "The team was great at explaining what was going on," he said.
GI cancers, as well as many other cancers, often don't cause symptoms until the disease has become advanced. Some symptoms of GI cancers include:
- Rectal bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Change in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight loss
- Lack of appetite
- Unusual bloating
Throughout the conversation, Dr. DiRocco answered live and pre-submitted questions about treatments and about how other GI diseases affect the likelihood of developing GI cancer.