Gastrointestinal cancer occurs when malignant cells grow, and the cells divide without any control or order, eventually forming a growth or a tumor that affects the digestive tract. This tract includes the path that food travels during digestion starting with the esophagus.

Signs of possible gastrointestinal cancer include:

• Persistent abdominal pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Blood in the stool

But having these conditions doesn’t guarantee that you have gastrointestinal cancer. These symptoms apply to various conditions. The first step is to get checked. Early detection improves your chances for a good outcome.

And when it comes to getting an accurate diagnosis, Mount Sinai can help. We offer comprehensive consultations by board-certified specialists who will discuss your concerns and prescribe the tests you need to make a speedy and accurate diagnosis using the latest technologies. We can help whether you have symptoms or are concerned because of a family member’s diagnosis.

Not only do we have highly trained and skilled doctors, we also have the latest technology for diagnosis, confocal endoscopy. This advanced GI diagnostic imaging service allows us to spot precancerous GI tissue and malignancies at their earliest and most treatable stage. With this new, minimally invasive procedure, we can obtain optical biopsies of the lining of the GI tract in real time without having to remove cells and tissues, as is the case in traditional biopsies.