Gastrointestinal
Don't count the days, make the days count - Muhammad Ali
A particularly hard disease to beat, the prognosis for gastrointestinal cancer is generally poor.
Take liver cancer...most patients are given a life expectancy of 3 months to a year, depending on the extent of the disease and available treatments. Surgery to remove the cancer is one option, however it is only successful in about 10% to 20% of cases and if the cancer cannot be removed surgically, the disease is usually fatal within a year.
In addition to surgery, treatments for liver cancer include chemotherapy and radiation as well as oral medications to block the tumor’s growth. In some cases, if a patient is diagnosed early enough they may be eligible for a liver transplant; though, very few patients are diagnosed early.
Robin Gibb's losing battle with liver cancer illustrates what people sometimes will do. Gibb utilized unconventional forms of treatment that included daily 20 minute sessions in a detox hut to sweat out toxins, something called Native American ‘spider medicine’, which promises to “cure even the most untreatable diseases.” Spider medicine involves hours of meditation in which the patient envisions a spider creating and weaving its own fate. The patient attempts to capture that powerful energy and channel it to heal their body.
We're not sure about spider medicine as a treatment, however when facing death I guess we will try anything, right?
Hopefully, in the near future there will be a screening test for this devastating condition.
Barretts Oesophagus CampaignFounded in 1999, Barrett’s Oesophagus Campaign (BOC) is the only national charity dedicated to the prevention of cancer from Barrett’s Oesophagus and the support of people living with the disease.
British Liver Trust | Pioneering Liver HealthOur mission is to help adults with liver disease and to prevent liver disease. We strive to secure a greater recognition of the growing burden of liver disease on UK society, and to understand and disseminate information on the major factors that cause liver disease.
CORE | Fighting Gut and Liver DiseaseCore leads the fight against all diseases of the gut, liver and pancreas. One in eight deaths in the UK is linked to these conditions. We work with professionals and patients to support research that saves lives and improves patient outcomes, and we provide evidence-based information that enables people to take control of their condition.
Esophageal Cancer Action Network | We Can Save LivesLike so many organizations fighting deadly disease, the impetus to establish ECAN began with profound grief and frustration. In 2007, John “Monte” Mordecai was diagnosed with a later stage of esophageal cancer.
While Monte and his Johns Hopkins physicians waged a brave battle that included every treatment modality available, his elder daughter wanted to fight his disease as well. A 12-year-old dancer, Mara Mordecai decided she wanted more people to understand that something as common as heartburn could lead to something as deadly as her father’s disease. From that desire, an event and non profit corporation known as Dance for the Cure was born.
Gastric Cancer FoundationThe Gastric Cancer Foundation is the first organization dedicated to helping people fight gastric cancer. Through education, research, support and advocacy, the organization is dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by gastric cancer and working with leading researchers to find a cure to this disease.
GASTROCANGASTROCAN (GRAMPIAN GASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL CANCER RESEARCH FUND) supports research to improve treatment for oesophageal and gastric cancer in NHS Grampian and The University of Aberdeen Medical School.
Liver Cancer Surgery AppealThe aim of the Appeal is to raise money to invest in state-of-the-art equipment for the NHS to perform liver surgery to the highest possible standards.
The liver is a site of secondary cancer for many patients who suffer with bowel cancer. Removing cancer from the liver by operation will significantly improve the chance of survival in at least a third of patients.
No Stomach for CancerWe know that if you are here, it is likely that you or someone close to you is impacted by gastric cancer. If so, you are in the right place. We know personally what that means. We were once looking for a place where we would discover critical information about the choices we were facing and the implications of those choices. We needed to know we were not alone in this fight.
No Stomach For Cancer and this website were established to create that source and community. We help people around the world connect, with participation on this site from individuals and families in more than 100 countries.
Oesophagoose Oesophageal and Gastric Cancer are the fifth commonest cause of cancer deaths in the UK, and yet, many people do not know what and where the oesophagus (gullet or food pipe) is, or the difference between their stomach and their belly/tummy.
The V FoundationServing as the heartbeat of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, formed by ESPN and Jim in 1993, his words throughout the ESPY speech have never been more meaningful. After being diagnosed with cancer at the young age of 46, Jim dreamed of finding cures for cancer.
Passionate and committed, he wanted to see his fight through to victory. As a former coach, he began to recruit his team of family and friends to lead the Foundation in his quest to eradicate the disease.
eMedicine.com | Gastric CancerGastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. Many Asian countries, including Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan, have very high rates of gastric cancer.
Medline Plus | Medical EncyclopediaAdenocarcinoma of the stomach is a common cancer of the digestive tract worldwide, although it is relatively uncommon in the US. It occurs most frequently in men over 40 years old.
NCI | National Cancer InstituteInformation about gastric cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy
WCGI | World Congress on Gastrointestinal CancerThe World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer continues to serve as a multidisciplinary forum of leading practitioners including oncologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons, radiotherapists, specialists in cancer research as well as oncology nurses.
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