The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center provides state-of-the-art prevention, detection, and treatment services at selected locations throughout southern New Jersey. The Center is headquartered in a modern, new facility in Voorhees. This building has numerous physician offices, a four-room operating suite, and a fully equipped procedure room. The facility is frequently used for sophisticated diagnostic tests and a variety of outpatient procedures.
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center plays a significant role in the work done by the Cooper Cancer Institute and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ). CINJ is the first and only organization in the state to be designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Cooper is the only hospital in southern New Jersey to be included in CINJ’s network of hospitals and oncology groups.
Approximately 150,000 new cases of gastrointestinal cancer are diagnosed every year. Thousands of these cases are in southern New Jersey. Fortunately, the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center at Cooper is uniquely equipped to provide the people of our region with the most advanced treatment options because…
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Cooper University Hospital is the region’s leading center for the detection, evaluation, and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. Patients can confidently look to Cooper for the very best in cancer diagnosis and care.
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Cooper is the only South Jersey hospital included in the prestigious network of institutions that make up The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ). Fighting gastrointestinal malignancies is an important part of the work done by CINJ.
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The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center is able to offer patients access to state-of-the-art treatment options, including the latest clinical trials.
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Cooper physicians are leaders in cancer research and care. Many of them are among the Delaware Valley’s “Top Docs” in the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies and other types of cancer.
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Our physicians are respected educators at the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Cooper. As a result, they are completely familiar with significant, new developments taking place in cancer treatment.
Genetics Counseling
It is an unfortunate fact that some people are considered at higher risk of gastrointestinal malignancies than others. In many cases, this is due to genetic (hereditary) factors. The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center offers hereditary risk assessment, genetics testing, and counseling. Cooper has a genetics counselor, a genetics nurse, and a genetics coordinator available to provide information and assistance to those considered to be at the greatest risk.
These medical professionals assist individuals in taking practical steps to reduce their susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancer
A Multidisciplinary Approach
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center takes a multi-disciplinary approach to treatment. This means that each patient has an entire team of doctors and other medical professionals at work on his or her behalf. By combining the skills and knowledge of specialists in related fields, Cooper physicians can determine the optimal regimen of care for each individual case.
These teams consist of:
- Gastrointestinal surgeons
- Gastroenterologists
- Medical oncologists
- Radiation oncologists
- Radiation therapists
- Nurses
- Medical technicians and other specialists as needed (e.g. dieticians and social workers)
These experts meet regularly to determine the best treatment for each patient and how to implement that regimen of care. And because our physicians are also educators at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Cooper, they are knowledgeable about the latest breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Cooper also has an oncology-certified nurse coordinator who works with patients through every stage of treatment. This dedicated individual facilitates care and educates individuals about their condition. The nurse coordinator assists patients in obtaining the help of nutritionists, social workers, and other support personnel. All of these professionals are adept at using techniques that seek to minimize discomfort. They also interact with patients in a compassionate, sensitive way.
Minimally Invasive Treatment
The Gastrointestinal Cancer Center is at the forefront of technological innovation. Wherever practical, Cooper physicians seek to utilize the latest non-surgical or minimally invasive techniques. Such procedures offer numerous advantages, including reduced trauma, shorter hospitalizations, and faster recoveries. For example, Cooper is one of the few hospitals where hand-assisted laparoscopic colon resections are performed. This surgery features a lap-disc with a camera which is attached to the surgeon’s hand. It delivers improved visualization and greater technical control.
Doctors associated with the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center also use other minimally invasive procedures, such as high-frequency radioablation and endorectal MRIs, to treat pre-malignant growths and cancer. In an effort to produce the best possible outcomes for patients, Cooper takes part in a wide variety of clinical tests. This commitment to innovative therapies gives patients access to options that are often not available anywhere else in the region. In summary, the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center can be relied on for the best, most advanced cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment in the greater Delaware Valley area.
For more information about the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center or to schedule an appointment with a Cooper physician, please call our Physician Referral & Information Line at 1-800-8-COOPER (800-826-6737). Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 4:30pm to answer questions regarding available medical services, physicians and community health programs.