Story

On Sunday 11th September 2011 I shall be entering the 'London Duathlon Challenge' in memory of my twin sister Sally who passed away late last year following a period of a specific cancer called 'Gist'. GIST is an abbreviation for GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumour. <ul> <li>Gastrointestinal means that it occurs in the digestive tract, anywhere from the oesophagus to the rectum i.e. the gullet, stomach, intestines.</li> <li>Stromal indicates that the tumours occur, not in the "functioning" part of the organ but in the tissues (the stromal cells) that hold the organ in place in the body. So, for example, a GIST in or near the colon is not "cancer of the colon" because it does not occur in the functioning part of the colon but in the tissues which support the colon. (For reference, the functioning parts of any organ are made up of so-called parenchyal cells).</li> <li>Tumour simply means that the GIST condition is producing a solid(ish) lump unlike, e.g. leukaemia.</li> </ul> GISTs are malignant tumours of soft tissues in the gastro-intestinal tract (the stomach and intestines). They are a very rare kind of sarcoma. Around about 2% of tumours in the gastrointestinal area are GISTs. So please dig deep and donate now and help people understand more about this type of Cancer and help others who are still suffering (<a href="http://www.gistsupportuk.co.uk">www.gistsupportuk.co.uk</a>) Tony Butcher