Peter's Story

In February 2002, after being treated for a suspected stomach ulcer, Peter collapsed at work during a business meeting. He was diagnosed with GIST. Over a 4 year period he had 4 abdominal surgeries. In the process he lost his entire stomach, spleen, left adrenal gland and 2/3 of his pancreas. He needed extensive surgery to repair his digestive track, enabling him to eat. This surgery also enabled him to sleep in a lying down position after having slept in a seated position for 18 months.

At the start of the illness, he was a strong 112 kg and at his lowest had dropped to 65 kg's. The weight loss and inability to eat was probably a greater risk to his life than the cancer itself. At times he survived through incredible support from family and friends, faith and at times shear bloody mindedness.

Peter had the opportunity to use a trial drug called Glivec, after it failed, he was put onto a trial with a drug by the code name of SU011248. The drug is being trialed by Pfizer. We know already that these drugs are not a cure. They simply manage the cancer and hopefully buys time to find more long lasting alternatives.

Please support us in finding a cure for GIST.

What is GIST ?

• GIST is an acronym for "gastro intestinal stromal tumour". It falls into the sarcoma category of cancer.
• GIST is a rare gastro intestinal cancer for which there is no known cure. Surgery is the "gold standard" treatment together with glivec, a drug which "contains" the growth of tumours but does not provide a cure. Traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy do not work.
• GIST tumours often grow quite large before they are discovered and primary tumours often produce few symptoms.
• Exact incidence of GIST is unknown, it is now estimated that in a population size of the USA, between 5,000 and 10,000 people will develop GISTs every year.
• About 40-70% of GISTs occur from the stomach, 20-40% occur from the small intestine, and 5-15% from the colon and rectum. GISTs can also occur in the oesophagus (Less than 5%). Sometimes GISTs develop outside the intestinal tract in the abdominal cavity.
• Typically GIST tumours will metastasise (spread) to the liver and lungs. There are however cases of it spreading to other organs e.g. brain.