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Tadeusz Cymański in an interview for Rzeczpospolita admitted that he had cancer. The disease has a distinctive name: GIST. “Thanks to early detection during preventive examinations, there is a chance that it will end well” – said the politician. What exactly is GIST, what are the symptoms, and what is the treatment like? We explain.
- Tadeusz Cymański informed that he suffers from a cancer – GIST sarcoma
- GIST sarcomas are tumors of the gastrointestinal stromal tissue. They most often develop in the stomach
- The most common symptoms of GIST include pain in the abdomen and stomach area, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction. Sometimes the disease may not present any early and characteristic symptoms
- Surgery is the most effective treatment for GIST
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Tadeusz Cymański: I got a cancer – GIST
Tadeusz Cymański, a politician of Solidarity Poland, informed that he was suffering from cancer. – I got cancer – GIST. It is a sarcoma, not very aggressive, rarely metastases – he said in an interview for the Saturday supplement to Rzeczpospolita, Plus minus. He was diagnosed with the disease during preventive examinations. – Cancer is unequal to neoplasm. My cancer is not the worst – admitted the politician, emphasizing the importance of prevention in the early diagnosis of the disease.
As Cymański assures, he himself feels well and is waiting for the surgery. There is no set date yet.
In the interview, the politician referred to Lech Wałęsa, who said before the last operation that he was already packed and that he was not afraid of going to the other world. – I’m not prepared, I’m not packed. I do not want to die (…) I am very afraid of suffering, because this path is probably the worst. The very moment of death is a moment, while suffering … ».
What is mysterious sounding GIST, what are the symptoms?
As Tadeusz Cymański himself pointed out, GIST is a sarcoma, so it belongs to the group of malignant neoplasms originating from connective tissue. Sarcomas are divided into two large subgroups: soft tissue sarcomas (formed within adipose, muscle and fibrous tissue) and bone sarcomas. GIST arises from the gastrointestinal stromal tissue.
As we read on the website of the Association for Aid to GIST Patients, this disease is a rare neoplasm, but at the same time it is the most common cancer among sarcomas. “Unlike many cancers or neoplasms of the lymphatic system, GIST is a solid tumor that often spreads not inside the organs but out into the peritoneum, and may even grow outside the body” – says the organization. Such sarcomas can appear anywhere in the digestive system. However, they are most often found in the stomach – 40-70 percent. and in the small intestine – 20-35 percent. It also happens that they develop in the esophagus (less than 10%), large intestine, and anus. Sometimes GIST is located outside the gastrointestinal tract, but most often it remains in the abdomen.
The characteristic name of the tumor – GIST, is an acronym of the English name: gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which means: gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
The most common symptoms of GIST neoplasms include: pain in the abdomen and stomach area, gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal obstruction. It is worth remembering that in some cases, GIST sarcomas may not present any early or characteristic symptoms. This creates the danger that they will be detected at an advanced stage.
GIST – How Common Is It, Who Is More At Risk?
As noted by the GIST Patient Aid Association, a dozen or so years ago it was believed that these sarcomas are very rare, but Japanese scientists calculated that statistically every third inhabitant of the Earth carries a potential GIST. “Fortunately, most people do not develop this disease,” emphasizes the association. It is estimated that the incidence in adults is 1 – 1,4 per 100. inhabitants (hence GIST is classified as a rare neoplasm).
The risk of disease increases with age. It is estimated that 75 percent. cases of GIST affect people over 50 years of age. In fact, however, people of all ages can develop this type of sarcoma. “Today there is talk of neonatal GIST or infant GIST,” the association notes, noting that there are no known risk factors for developing GIST. “The only exception is familial GIST – Type 1 Neurofibromatosis, which is extremely rare.”
GIST – prevention, treatment
As explained by the oncology portal Tropic of Cancer, diagnostics and detection of gastrointestinal stromal neoplasms are based on, inter alia, on the results of imaging tests – computed tomography of the abdominal cavity with intravenous and oral contrast and magnetic resonance (in the case of suspected GIST cancer in the rectum).
- Computed tomography – what should you know about it?
If GIST is found, surgery is the most effective treatment. It is known that the earlier this sarcoma is detected and the sooner treatment is introduced, the better the results of the therapy. So let’s repeat after Tadeusz Cymański himself: After XNUMX, it is especially worth having an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity at least once a year, even at the expense of time and budget strain. Prophylaxis allows you to detect the disease before the symptoms appear (…) it is worth checking yourself regularly. Let us not be afraid to go to the doctor ».
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- The most common cancer in men. How does his treatment in Poland look like?
- Prophylactic examinations for men. What tests are worth doing?
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