Gastroenterology - Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Pathway - What happens next?

What happens next?

Once you have had your diagnostic endoscopic procedure (camera test), if a tumour of the stomach or oesophagus (gullet) has been identified, biopsies may have been taken for diagnostic purposes.

These biopsies are sent away for histological testing (study under a microscope). You may also be required to have further investigations following your endoscopy, this could include a computerised tomography scan (CT scan).

These investigations will be arranged on an urgent basis. You may receive a call from one of the UGI clinical nurse specialist (CNS) to offer support and answer any questions or concerns you may have. You may also be invited to attend the UGI assessment clinic to meet with the CNS and dietician.

It can take approximately between 2 to 4 weeks from your first investigation, to having a conclusive diagnosis. All of this information is vital for the UGI Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting to effectively discuss your investigations.

Multi-disciplinary Team Discussion

Diagnosing and treating cancer requires a team of experts. The team is made up of cancer experts including, Consultant Surgeons, Radiologists, Pathologists and Specialist Nurses.

These are people who understand what cancer cells look like and how they behave. The MDT will decide if further tests are required. Furthermore, conclude if you have cancer and what type of cancer it is.

Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, the MDT will then reach a decision on the most effective way of treating it. Everyone in the MDT meets on a weekly basis, the UGI MDT takes place Friday morning. This is to discuss about suspected cancer patients and form a treatment plan that is within your best interests.

Following the MDT meeting, you may be invited to the UGI clinic to discuss these results or contacted by our UGI nurse specialist team to arrange further discussion of the results and proposed treatment plan.

UGI Nursing Team

If you have any further questions whilst under further investigations, please do not hesitate to contact our team on one of the below telephone numbers:  0161 656 1956 or 0161 627 8982.