GI Clinic

The St. Jude Gastrointestinal (GI) Clinic team provides expert care for patients with diseases and treatment side effects that involve the digestive (gastrointestinal) system. The GI system includes the stomach, liver, intestines, and other organs that help the body breakdown food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste.

Services we provide

GI side effects are common among children receiving chemotherapy and other treatments. These side effects may include:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting

Your child may be referred to the clinic to:

• Manage treatment side effects
• Manage chronic GI problems
• Have diagnostic tests

The patient’s treatment team makes the referrals. Family caregivers and patients may request referrals to the GI Clinic.

After evaluation in the clinic, diagnostic tests might be scheduled:

• Endoscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is inserted through the mouth into the stomach and upper small intestine. Doctors use it to look at the upper GI tract.
• Colonoscopy: A thin, flexible tube with a camera and light on the end is inserted in the rectum and into the large intestine. Doctors use it to look at the lining of the lower GI tract.

Your GI Clinic team

The clinic staff includes a gastroenterologist and registered nurses. Gastroenterologists are doctors who specialize in the care and treatment of GI problems. They are experts in treating GI side effects related to the treatment of cancer and other diseases at St. Jude.

The GI Clinic team has extensive experience caring for children facing life-threatening illnesses. 

What to expect during your visit 

During the first visit, the gastroenterologist will review your child’s medical history and do a physical exam. The doctor may also ask questions and schedule more tests. If an endoscopy or colonoscopy is needed, the staff will schedule it during the visit, but the test will take place later.

The doctor will make treatment recommendations and answer your questions. Follow-up visits are often scheduled to check on a child’s response to treatment and to review test results and the care plan.

Learn more

The GI Clinic is open once a week. The clinic is on the northeast side of the Patient Care Center. If you have questions about the St. Jude GI Clinic, call 901-595-5372.