Cancer treatment patient pathway for the oesophagus and stomach

Hear from Sharon Asquith, Lead Upper GI cancer Clinical Nurse

You have been referred to Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for surgery for your Oesophageal (food pipe) or Gastric (stomach) Cancer.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of 2 specialist surgical centres within West Yorkshire who perform specialist cancer surgery of the Oesophagus (oesophageal) and stomach (gastric). Patients from Airedale, Calderdale, Huddersfield and Bradford areas are referred to Bradford Teaching Hospitals for this surgery.

We understand this is a very difficult and stressful time for you and your family and so the Oesophago-Gastric team have created a patient education video as a guide to help you navigate your journey.

There are many cancer sites which provide lots of useful information. Please click here for some of those recommended sites relating to your type of cancer:

Your chemotherapy route

Chemotherapy is delivered at the hospital that is closer to home. Learn about the treatment/pathway in your area.

To learn more about what will happen at the hospital when you go for chemotherapy, see Chemotherapy – easy read (Macmillan Cancer Support).

Bradford

The Chemotherapy service is based at The Meadows Unit, based at Eccleshill Community Hospital, this is where you will come for your treatment, oncology clinic appointments and any blood tests you require during your treatment.

Dr Brown, our Oesophago-Gastric Consultant Oncologist, or one of the registrars will see you regularly in the clinic.

Airedale

Visit Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – Upper GI Cancer.

Calderdale & Huddersfield

Visit Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust – Upper GI Cancer.

Your two surgery pathways explained

Understanding Gastrectomy

The stomach is a stretchy, muscular bag, which stores food and helps to break it down (digestion). It is in the upper left-hand side of the tummy area (abdomen).

The upper part of the stomach joins to the oesophagus or food pipe and the lower part of the stomach joins to the first part of the small bowel (the duodenum). The pancreas, gall bladder and liver are close to the stomach. They produce juices and enzymes (chemicals) that help digest food.

Surgery to remove your stomach is called a gastrectomy. There are different types of gastrectomy. The type you have depends on the stage and position of your cancer.

You might have:

A subtotal or partial gastrectomy – removal of part of the stomach
A total gastrectomy – removal of all of the stomach

You will be in hospital for about 10 days, please click on the following links for more information:

Understanding Oesophagectomy

The oesophagus (gullet or food pipe) is part of the digestive system, which is sometimes called the gastro-intestinal tract (GI tract). The oesophagus is a muscular tube, which connects your mouth to your stomach. It`s position is deep within the chest, surrounded by your heart and lungs.

An oesophagectomy is removal of your oesophagus or part of your oesophagus.

You will be in hospital for around 14 days.

Support and advice for you after surgery

You have had a major operation affecting your digestive tract and might be feeling that life can never be the same again. It can, with slight modifications, and it can be a good life.

Your health and wellbeing

Your follow up consultations

A good starting point

Your objective now must be to learn to live with the changes in your system so that they affect your quality of life as little as possible. Here are some useful tips: