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Sunnybrook Staff

Navigating MyCare
for upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery

Learn more about your upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer journey. 

Below we will take you through a general pathway of care for upper GI cancer patients, from pre to post surgery. This care pathway is generalized to encompass all GI cancers. Specific pathways for different types of cancer are coming soon. 

Your care pathway

  • Pre-surgery

    Arriving at Sunnybrook, information about your cancer, and your jounrey leading up to surgery. 

  • Surgery

    Learn about our surgical approach and surgical options.

  • Post-surgery

    Information about follow-up with your surgeon, and your transition plan for long-term care.

1

Pre-surgery

Getting to Sunnybrook

Before you are referred to Sunnybrook, you will have met with your family doctor, gastroenterologist, or referring specialist. If your doctor suspects or determines that you have an HPB or upper gastrointestinal cancer then you do not need a biopsy before your first Sunnybrook appointment.

About your cancer

There are numerous types of HPB or upper gastrointestinal cancers that are treated at Sunnybrook. Learn more about these cancers below:

Adrenal
Bile duct & gallbladder
Colorectal liver metastasis
Gastric (stomach)
Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST)
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Neuroendocrine tumour (NET)
Pancreatic
Spleen

Stay connected to your health records

Register for MyChart

Resources for patients and families

Sunnybrook cancer care resources:

Cancer workshops and classes
Patient and family education, cancer

Trusted community resources:

Wellspring cancer support programs
Canadian Cancer Society
Pancreatic Cancer Canada
Debbie's Dream Foundation
CNETS Canada

Your first appointment: consultation

Local patients

Most patients will have their first clinic visit within 5-7 days.

For patients who live far away

If you live far from Sunnybrook, teleconference consultations can be arranged.

Treatment plan

Before your treatment is decided, a group of world-leading cancer experts meet to discuss your best possible treatment plan.

Prehabilitation

Before your surgery, your surgeon may talk to you about prehabilitation.

The goal of prehabilitation is to help you become as healthy and strong as possible to prepare you for surgery and the recovery period that follows.

Learn more about prehabilitation
2

Surgery

Surgery

If you need surgery, minimally invasive procedures mean fewer incisions and faster recovery. Some HPB resections may be performed using a minimally invasive approach.

Our experts are also world leaders in traditional open surgeries.

3

Post-surgery

Follow up with your surgeon

You will meet with your surgeon to review the next steps in your care pathway.

Transition plan

At the end of your treatment, you will meet with the team to discuss a plan for long-term care and surveillance.

Contact us

Contact the patient and family education team at patienteducation@sunnybrook.ca or 416-480-4534.

For questions about your care, please contact your care team directly.

Ongoing supports

Learn about Sunnybrook's Patient and Family Support Program

You may also find the below tool helpful in searching for a health-care provider closer to home:

» Download a PDF version of this care pathway

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