Description

A gastrointestinal stromal tumor, also called an ESSENCE, is a type of cancer that begins in the digestive system. Gists occur most frequently in the stomach and the small intestine.

An idea is a growth of cells that are thought to be formed from nerve cells in the walls of the digestive organs. The cells of the nerves play a part in the process that moves food through the body.

Small Gists may not cause symptoms. And the Gist can grow so slowly that they do not cause problems in the first place. As an ESSENCE grows, it can cause symptoms that can include abdominal pain, and nausea.

Gists can occur in people of any age, but are more common in adults and very rare in children. The cause of the majority of Gists is not known.

Symptoms

Gastrointestinal stromal Tumor of the symptoms include:

  • A growth in the belly area.
  • Belly pain.
  • Fatigue.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Not feel hungry when you would expect.
  • The feeling of being full if you eat only a small amount of food.
  • Dark-colored stools caused by bleeding in the digestive system.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

The cause of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor is often not known. This type of cancer, which is also called an ESSENCE, which occurs in the digestive system. It most often affects the stomach and the small intestine. The gist is thought to begin in the nerve cells in the walls of the digestive organs. These nerve cells play a part in the process that moves food through the body.

A GIST is started when the nerve cells in the digestive system develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA contains the instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions that tell cells to die at a set time. In cancer cells, changes in DNA to give different instructions. The changes tell cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly. Cancer cells can continue living when healthy cells would die. This makes too many cells.

The cancer cells may form a mass called a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cancer cells can break off and spread. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

The risk factors of gastrointestinal stromal tumor, also called ESSENCE, which include:

  • The history of the family. People with a family history of Gist may be at increased risk of this cancer.
  • Hereditary syndromes. People with certain inherited conditions may be more likely to have the Gist. Examples include neurofibromatosis type 1 and Carney-Stratakis syndrome.
  • Adulthood. An idea that can occur at any age. This type of cancer more common in adults. It is rare in children.

Diagnosis

To diagnose a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, your health care professional may start by asking you about your symptoms and your health. This type of cancer, which is also called an ESSENCE, which occurs in the digestive system.

If your symptoms suggest that you may have an idea, you may need other tests to detect cancer. These tests may include:

  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests help your healthcare team to find their tumor and see its size. The tests may include ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography (PET). Not everyone will need every test.
  • The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. This test uses a long, thin tube (endoscope) with a light at the end. The tube passes through the mouth and throat. This test looks at the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.
  • Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). This test also uses an endoscope, but with an ultrasound probe at the tip of the scope. The ultrasound probe uses sound waves to make images of the tumor, and show their size.
  • Fine-needle aspiration biopsy.This test is to obtain a small tissue sample of the tumor so that it can be analyzed in a laboratory. This test is the same as that in USE, but with a thin, hollow needle at the tip of the endoscope. The eu is the tumor. The needle picks up small amounts of tissue for laboratory testing. Sometimes, the needle may not obtain a sufficient number of cells, or the results are not clear. You may need surgery to collect the sample.
  • Laboratory tests in the biopsies. The biopsy sample of the tumor is to a laboratory for analysis. In the laboratory, the specialists of the test the cells to see if the cancer cells. Other tests give your professional of the health of the details about his cancer of the cells that are used to plan your treatment.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy. This test is to obtain a small tissue sample of the tumor so that it can be analyzed in a laboratory. This test is the same as that in USE, but with a thin, hollow needle at the tip of the endoscope. The eu is the tumor. The needle picks up small amounts of tissue for laboratory testing.

Sometimes, the needle may not obtain a sufficient number of cells, or the results are not clear. You may need surgery to collect the sample.

Treatment

Gastrointestinal stromal Tumor treatment often involves surgery and targeted therapy. What treatments are best for you depends on your situation. This type of cancer, which is also called an ESSENCE, which occurs in the digestive system.

Some Gists do not need treatment right away. Very small Gists that do not cause symptoms may not require treatment. In its place, you may have tests to see if the cancer grows. If your ESSENCE grows, you can begin the treatment.

Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove all the GIST. It is often the first treatment of Gists that have not spread to other parts of the body.

The surgery could not be used if the tumor grows very large, or if it grows into nearby structures. If this happens, your first treatment could be the goal of therapy is to reduce the size of the tumor. You may have after surgery.

The type of operation you have depends on your type of cancer. Often, surgeons can access the ESSENCE through minimally invasive surgery. This means that the surgical instruments go through small incisions in the abdomen instead of through a large incision.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy for cancer is a treatment that uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For Gist, the goal of these medications is an enzyme called tyrosine kinase, which helps cancer cells grow.

Targeted therapy for Gists often begins with imatinib (Gleevec). Specific treatments can be given:

  • After the surgery, to lower the risk that the cancer will come back.
  • Before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and facilitate the extraction.
  • As the first treatment if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
  • If the ESSENCE comes back.

Other drugs for targeted therapy may be used if imatinib does not work for you, or if it stops functioning. Targeted therapy is an active area of cancer research, and new drugs are likely to become options in the future.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with a doctor or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. If your doctor thinks you might have a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, that person can refer you to a specialist. Often, this is a doctor who specializes in cancer, called a medical oncologist.

Appointments can be brief, and being prepared can help. Here is some information that can help you prepare.

What you can do

When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as fasting before a specific test. Make a list of:

  • Your symptoms, including any that seem unrelated to the reason for your appointment.
  • Key personal information, including major stresses, recent life changes and family medical history.
  • All medications, vitamins or supplements that you are taking, including the dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

Have a friend or family member, if possible, to help you remember the information they give you.

For gastrointestinal stromal tumors, some basic questions to ask your health care professional include:

  • Do I have cancer?
  • I need more tests?
  • What are my treatment options?
  • What are the potential risks of these treatment options?
  • Do any of the treatments to cure my cancer?
  • I have a copy of my pathology report?
  • How much time can I take to consider my options for treatment?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?
  • What would happen if I chose not to have treatment?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask several questions, such as:

  • When did your symptoms begin?
  • The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Symptoms and treatment of Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)