Gastrointestinal Cancers Team

The Gastrointestinal Cancers team at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center cares for people with cancers of the digestive system. They care for people with cancers of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, peritoneal surface, appendix, colon, rectum, anus, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts.

Many gastrointestinal cancers require complex care and more than one type of treatment. Some cancers can spread quickly and are hard to treat. Our team meets regularly to review each patient’s care and coordinate treatment. This approach helps ensure that you get the right treatments in the right order based on your diagnosis, your overall health, and your wishes. Our team also provides advanced specialized surgical techniques and cutting-edge clinical trials to give you the greatest array of possible treatment choices. And if you choose to join one or more clinical trials, our team will oversee your care on those trials.

“Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer, but newer chemotherapies and immunotherapies are becoming available. We have a lot to offer patients with this disease and take a comprehensive team approach.”

– Jessica Belmonte, MD

What Each Team Member Offers

Our experts work together to develop each person's care plan.

Medical Oncologists

Our team’s medical oncologists treat cancer using chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Radiation Oncologists

Radiation oncologists use radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy tissue. They manage how much radiation to deliver and how it is targeted. The techniques they offer include stereotactic body radiation therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Surgical Oncologists and Colorectal Surgeons

The surgical oncologists on our team remove cancers from the digestive tract and related organs, including the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts, stomach, small intestine, peritoneal surface, appendix, colon, rectum, and anus. They perform advanced procedures using open, laparoscopic, and robotic techniques. The team also offers specialized approaches such as hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and unique recovery methods that can reduce pain, support faster recovery after surgery, and lower the use of opioids for pain control.

Nurse Navigators

Nurse navigators guide you through your treatment and help coordinate care. They are your regular point of contact and a key resource for questions and support.

Nutrition Services

Our oncology dietitian can help you manage the side effects of treatment so that you maintain your weight. Good nutrition helps you feel better before, during and after your cancer treatment.

Support Services

Our Patient and Family Support Services team helps you through one of the most difficult times of your life. They offer resources for financial, social and emotional support.

Oncology Radiologists

Oncology radiologists are specially trained to interpret the many different types of medical imaging. They identify cancer, help the team to assess its impact, and work with the team to plan treatment.

Interventional Radiologists

Interventional radiologists use advanced imaging to perform targeted procedures, including biopsies and placing stents or drains when needed.

Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program

The UNM Cancer Center became home to a fellowship program in Complex General Surgical Oncology in 2020. Our two-year fellowship is dedicated to broad surgical oncology training that will prepare our fellows to provide state-of-the-art multidisciplinary cancer care. We are thrilled to be able to include these outstanding surgical fellows in your cancer care team.

Advanced Practice Providers may give medications or injections, take medical histories, perform medical exams or perform certain medical procedures under the guidance of a physician.