We hosted two PAWS-GIST clinics at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge - Clinic 6 (November 2015) and Clinic 7 (June 2016).
Patients travel from all corners of the UK to attend the PAWS-GIST clinic at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.
Last month, seven new patients came to our 7th clinic following on from the six who joined us for the 6th clinic in November. These two clinics included patients from York, Maidstone, Glasgow, Newport, Cambridge, Suffolk, Leeds Stamford, Belfast, Aylesbury and Oxford.
Forty-six PAWS-GIST patients have now attended a clinic to-date.
Clinic 6 - November 2015
Clinic 7 - June 2016
On this occasion Dr Ramesh Bulusu, Dr Palma Dileo and Professor Eamonn Maher were joined by PAWS-GIST researcher Dr Ruth Casey.
As is customary we met the evening before for our welcome meal which helps everyone to get to know one another in an informal environment.
For most this is the very first time that they have ever met another GIST patient, let alone another PAWS-GIST patient, so it is very helpful to be able to discuss and share experiences.
Each patient and their accompanying friends / family met with the specialists for personal consultations to discuss their individual circumstances.
Feedback confirms that patients find it immensely helpful to ask questions of and talk to specialists who are focused specifically on PAWS-GIST cancer.
Unusually males outnumbered females 8:5 in clinics 6 & 7, although overall female patients have outnumbered males 30:16 across the seven clinics.
The body of data that is being collected for the PAWS-GIST research programme continues to grow and we are beginning to attract interest from researchers.
The next clinic will be held in November 2016.
Applications to attend should be made via this website which also contains a wealth of information for patients, their families and those who are keen to support this ground breaking initiative.
GastroIntestinal Stromal Tumours affect c.900 new patients in the UK each year, c.15% are estimated to be PAWS-GIST patients.
If anyone you know has been affected by GIST cancer, please alert them to our clinic and this website and also to GIST Cancer UK, who are working to help patients and advance understanding of this rare disease www.gistcancer.org.uk .
Our sincere thanks goes to everyone involved in the medical reviews and preparations in advance of the clinic and for the care and expertise delivered by the specialist team on the day.
Thank you also, to everyone who supports our work to improve treatment and find a cure for PAWS-GIST!