Archibald Rodrigues’s introduction to gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) was terrifying but, without it, he might not have found out he had the rare cancer until it was too late.
About four years ago, the then 78-year-old Burnaby resident got up at about 5 a.m. to use the washroom, when he experienced a severe hemorrhage and collapsed.
“There was blood all over; it was a mess,” he said. “I’d never been sick before or anything like that, so my wife was absolutely in panic stations.”
After hemorrhaging and collapsing again at Burnaby Hospital, emergency surgery revealed a tumour the size of a small mandarin orange in his stomach.
It was removed, along with a third of his stomach, but it could have been worse.
Some GISTs are not cancerous, but generally speaking, the bigger they get, the greater the risk.
“Fortunately the operation must have done a real good job because I am not taking any cancer treatment,” Rodrigues said.
Because GIST is rare, information about his new disease wasn’t easy for Rodrigues to find, until his family doctor recommended an information session being put on by the Life Raft Group, a patient support organization for people with GIST.
“It is something that I wish I had known when I first got (GIST),” Rodrigues said. “For the first one-and-a-half years, I did not even know it was a type of cancer. It widened my horizon on what the facts are and what could happen and what I should be doing. These are some of the things doctors don’t normally have the time to sit down and talk to you about.”
Rodrigues, now a director with Life Raft, wants to pass that support on to others dealing with his disease.
“My message to people is, I hope you don’t have it, but if you do, call me. I’d like to help if I can,” he said.
Life Raft is hosting a free day of education at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel this Saturday (Oct. 18) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Three experts will be on hand to present information about GIST diagnosis and treatment, the emotional impact of the disease and the drugs available to treat it.
For more information, phone 1-855-LRG-GIST (574-4478) or visit www.liferaftgroup.ca.
