I was diagnosed with GIST (Gastro-Intestinal Stromal Tumor) after surgery in June 2004 to remove a large tumor from the outside of my large intestine. This is a rare sarcoma cancer, only 5000 new cases in the USA each year (compared to 180,000 new breast cancer cases).
I am being treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston by wonderful committed oncologists and researchers who have dedicated their lives to working with these deadly cancers.
Before 2000, there was no treatment for GIST after surgery. There is an 80% tumor recurrence rate. It was fatal. Patients did not respond to chemotherapy or radiation: it was a death sentence. Now there is a fabulous "targeted therapy" drug called Gleevec that stops the uncontrolled multiplication of the cancer cells: it stops the tumors in their tracks. There are very few and manageable side effects and GIST patients are now surviving many healthy years with this seemingly simple treatment: one pill each day forever.
The fact that even such a rare cancer inspires researchers to develop treatment options is amazing to me. They are our heroes, these dedicated people in their laboratories and hospitals. I owe my life to their life’s work.
Money raised for cancer research goes directly to support these scientists and their labs. They are making constant progress in treating many kinds of cancer, more discoveries all the time. It is so wonderful!
We cheer Bob on his trip of discovery and dedication and look forward to meeting him in Maine, our home state. You go, Bob!
--Trish Barnes, Tenants Harbor, Maine
|