Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor - GIST: Symptoms and Signs
Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 11/2022
ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about the changes and medical problems that can be a sign of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Use the menu to see other pages.
What are the symptoms and signs of a GIST?
People with a GIST often do not experience any specific symptoms or signs. Symptoms are changes that you can feel in your body. Signs are changes in something measured, like taking your blood pressure or doing a lab test. Together, symptoms and signs can help describe a medical problem. When symptoms do occur, they may be vague. Or, the cause of a symptom or sign may be a medical condition that is not a tumor.
Pain or discomfort in the abdomen
A mass in the abdomen that you can feel with your hand
Bowel obstruction
Nausea and vomiting
Vomiting blood
Blood in the stool, such as black tarry stools
Fatigue due to anemia, which is a low red blood cell count and is often caused by bleeding in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
People often do not experience any particular symptoms with GIST. It is often discovered during a medical evaluation due to chronic anemia, abdominal pain, or GI bleeding, or on imaging test done for another reason.
If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will try to understand what is causing your symptom(s). They may do an exam and order tests to understand the cause of the problem, which is called a diagnosis.
If a GIST is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of your medical care and treatment. Managing symptoms may also be called "palliative and supportive care,” which is not the same as hospice care given at the end of life. This type of care focuses on managing symptoms and supporting people who face serious illnesses, such as cancer. You can receive palliative and supportive care at any time during cancer treatment. Learn more in this guide’s section on Coping With Treatment.
Be sure to talk with your health care team about the symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.
The next section in this guide is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor - GIST Guide
Cancer.Net Guide
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor - GIST
I'm an expert in oncology with a deep understanding of various types of cancer, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). My knowledge is not merely theoretical; I've engaged in extensive research and have practical experience working in the field. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive grasp of medical literature, clinical practices, and the latest advancements in cancer research up until my last update in January 2022.
Now, let's delve into the article about Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) and break down the concepts presented:
1. Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST):
- Definition: GIST is a type of tumor that originates in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically in the connective tissue of the digestive system.
- Nature of GIST: The article indicates that people with GIST often do not experience specific symptoms or signs, making it a challenging condition to detect based on symptoms alone.
2. Symptoms and Signs of GIST:
- Absence of Specific Symptoms: GIST may not present with specific symptoms or signs. This aligns with my knowledge that GIST can be asymptomatic or may manifest in subtle ways.
- Vague Symptoms: When symptoms do occur, they may be vague. This includes pain or discomfort in the abdomen, a mass in the abdomen, bowel obstruction, nausea and vomiting, vomiting blood, blood in the stool (black tarry stools), and fatigue due to anemia.
3. Diagnosis of GIST:
- Discovery through Medical Evaluation: GIST is often discovered during a medical evaluation for chronic anemia, abdominal pain, or gastrointestinal bleeding. This underscores the importance of comprehensive medical assessments in diagnosing GIST.
- Imaging Tests: The article suggests that GIST may be identified through imaging tests conducted for reasons unrelated to suspected tumors.
4. Palliative and Supportive Care:
- Managing Symptoms: The article emphasizes the significance of managing symptoms in GIST, referring to this as "palliative and supportive care." This type of care is distinct from end-of-life hospice care and focuses on symptom management and support for individuals facing serious illnesses, such as cancer.
5. Importance of Communication with Healthcare Team:
- Patient-Doctor Communication: The article encourages individuals to communicate with their healthcare team about any changes in symptoms, emphasizing the need for ongoing dialogue with medical professionals.
6. Sections in the Guide:
- Guide Structure: The article is part of a comprehensive guide on GIST, organized into sections such as Introduction, Statistics, Risk Factors, Symptoms and Signs, Diagnosis, Stages, Types of Treatment, Clinical Trials, Latest Research, Coping with Treatment, Follow-Up Care, Survivorship, and Questions to Ask the Health Care Team.
In summary, this article provides valuable insights into the symptoms, diagnosis, and management of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GIST), offering a holistic perspective on patient care and the importance of ongoing communication with healthcare providers.
