Dr Imran Shaikh is an experienced Surgical Oncologist with more than ten years of experience in the fields of Surgery and Surgical Gastroenterology. He also specializes in managing complex diseases of the abdomen (GI and HPB surgeries, GI cancers and Liver transplants). Dr.Imran is proficient in performing minimal access and advanced Laparoscopic surgeries as well as open abdomen surgeries. He also has several research presentations and publications to his credit and has been awarded the B Braun Medal and Scholarship for achievers in the field of GI Surgery.

Gastrointestinal Cancers

It is essential to diagnose cancer at an early stage, but the problem with Gastrointestinal Cancer is that they don't produce symptoms; they are generally asymptomatic. Primarily, it starts with the oesophagus, which connects from mouth to the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine, the rectum and finally, the anal canal. It is a long track. Since patients tend to ignore minor symptoms, they end up in advanced-stage cancer. The most common symptoms of Gastrointestinal Cancer are loss of appetite, loss of weight, inability to swallow, vomiting, jaundice, and any lump in the abdomen. Nowadays, all Cancer

Treatment modalities are divided into three main specialties surgery, Chemotherapy and radiation. We use all these modalities whenever needed.

Minimal Access and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeries

As the medical field is changing and evolving, new gadgets have helped improve Cancer Treatment options, prognosis, and difficulties, the most important technique that has blessed a Gastrointestinal Onco-surgeon is a laparoscopy, also called minimal access Surgery. We do not take a longer incision; we put small holes through which we put a laparoscope and instrument inside, and we perform the laparoscopic Surgery, the outcome from open and laparoscopic Surgery is the same, but only the entry mode is different.

Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Surgery

The GI tract has two main components, the food tract and solid organs and when we talk about solid organs, it includes the liver, pancreas, biliary system and spleen, which are secretory organs. Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Surgery is done by surgeons who are trained in biliary surgeries.

Colorectal Cancer

Compared to pancreatic or oesophagus cancer, Colorectal Cancer is much better in terms of survival. The reoccurrence chances are late as compared to pancreatic and oesophagus cancer. Colorectal Cancer treatment traditionally includes open surgery, where we remove a particular part of the colon and then do reconstruction Surgery to rejoin the intestine part.

Upper Gastrointestinal and Lower Gastrointestinal Cancer

The upper gastrointestinal means the oesophagus, stomach and the first part of the small intestine. The lower gastrointestinal cancers are Colorectal Cancer and anal cancers. Upper GI cancers are more malignant and aggressive than lower GI cancers. They both have different symptoms, treatment modalities and prognoses.

Alcohol is one of the main reasons for liver cancer, which is included in upper GI cancer. Alcohol intake also leads to the cause of oesophagus and Stomach Cancer. Smoking is the biggest factor for Pancreatic Cancer.

Small-Intestinal Cancer

Though the small intestine is the longest part of the GI tract, small intestine cancer is very rare. They are diagnosed late because it does not produce many symptoms. It is an aggressive cancer, and the Cancer Treatment options are less. The most difficult challenge in small intestine cancer is to diagnose it early.

Surgeries in Cancer Treatment

There are some endoscopic procedures available for early-stage cancers. Polyps are pre-cancer regions that occur mainly in the stomach, large intestine, rectum and colon. We can diagnose them by doing endoscopy, colonoscopy or Biopsy.

How is ZenOnco.io helping?

I am very happy with the work ZenOnco.io is doing because it is essential to spread awareness about cancer. People get misguided by the information available online, and they get very scared. Cancer doesn't happen to one person; it affects the whole family. And therefore, the whole family would be stressed about the Cancer Treatment. ZenOnco.io is doing a fantastic job by doing various activities to spread awareness about cancer and proper Cancer Treatment methods.

Watch the parts of the interview on the links below:

1. Gastrointestinal Cancers

2. Minimal Access and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeries

3. Hepato Pancreatic Biliary Surgery

4. Colorectal Cancer

5. Upper Gastrointestinal and Lower Gastrointestinal Cancer

6. Small-Intestinal Cancer

7. Surgeries in Cancer Treatment

8. How is ZenOnco.io helping?

Listen to the podcast here

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