Overview

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare, malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. These may not show any symptoms, but if they do, signs include belly pain, blood in poop, and vomiting blood. Surgery to remove GISTs is the most common treatment of choice. In some instances, surgery is necessary to treat them. However, these tumors can recur.

What are Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)?

GISTs are rare tumors in the human body. These tumors are soft tissue sarcomas. The tumors arise from interstitial cells of Cajal, which are located in the walls of the digestive organs. Within its compartment, these tumors usually appear in the stomach or small intestine.

Some gastrointestinal stromal tumors are relatively small, about the size of an eraser rather than a pencil. Smaller tumors might not be symptomatic. However, some can get sufficiently large that they produce symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and fatigue. When GISTs manifest, healthcare providers treat them surgically: that is, they remove the tumors.

Symptoms & Causes

This condition may or may not manifest with any symptoms. Generally, most people learn they have a GIST when they have a test or surgery for another reason. When symptoms manifest, they may include:

• Abdominal (belly) pain
• Blood in your poop:
• Constipation:
• Burnout:
• Expecting weight loss without change:
• Loss of appetite:
• Bleeding from vomiting:

GIST causes: usually, people develop this problem due to changes in the KIT gene. A mutation in this gene leads cells to produce the KIT (CD117) protein. This protein induces cell hyperproliferation and leads to tumors in your gastrointestinal tract. This genetic change occurs during one's lifetime. Still, you may develop GIST from inheriting a tumor syndrome that increases your likelihood, such as:

• Carney-Stratakis syndrome: This rare syndrome may raise your risk of GIST.
• Familial GIST syndrome: These few mutations in the abnormal KIT genes seem to pass from parent to child, giving rise to a higher chance of GIST development. If you have familial GIST syndrome, you may develop GIST at a younger age. And you may have more than one tumor.
• Neurofibromatosis type 1: a sort of illness that causes only some cells to multiply to form tumors. You might have cancer in most parts of your body.

Diagnosis & Tests

How does the doctor diagnose this disorder?

A healthcare expert may ask about your symptoms and how long you have had them. They will also perform a physical exam. They might do some tests, including:

• Upper endoscopy
• CT scan
• PET scan
• A biopsy, which involves taking tissue samples that a pathologist will examine under a microscope

Management & Treatment

How does one go about battling GIST?

You may have surgery combined with targeted medication as treatment. A small tumor may require only surgery. However, before surgery, you may receive targeted therapy to shrink a big tumor.

Prognosis and laying prospects

What can I expect while possessing a GIST?

While treatment can reduce the symptoms of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor and, in some cases, cure it, it may recur. Your oncologist may schedule follow-up appointments every 3 to 6 months to monitor for the emergence of a new GIST. They may perform tests, including:

• CT scans of your liver and pelvis
• MRI scans
• PET scans

What's the survival rate for someone having GIST?

Overall, 85 percent of patients diagnosed with GIST will be alive five years after diagnosis. Other survival rates are:

• Local: the tumor did not spread from where it started [95%]
• Regional-the tumor spread within nearby tissues and organs [84%]
• Distant-the tumor is in more distal parts of your body [52%]

Some data regarding cancer survival rates can be misleading. You may be feeling nervous about what this may mean for you. A survival rate is NOT a prediction; it is an estimate. Ask your oncologist to go over what you can expect.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced GIST treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced surgical oncologists who provide accurate diagnosis with advanced scans and personalized medical/surgical care. Our General and Laparoscopic Surgery team has decades of experience in successfully treating GIST in Lucknow, India.

To seek an Expert Consultation for Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) treatment in Lucknow, India:

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

Request a Call Back