First Signs of Stomach Cancer My GIST Tumor Story
It started with a simple pang in my stomach. At first, I brushed it off as hunger. We all have moments where our stomachs rumble or ache, and it is easy to dismiss them. But what followed was anything but normal.
Almost immediately after that sharp pain, a wave of intense lightheadedness washed over me. I felt like I was going to faint right there on the spot. My body was sending me a massive warning signal, and a wave of nausea quickly followed.
The Moment I Knew Something Was Wrong
The nausea culminated in a terrifying moment: I vomited about 30 mL of bright red blood mixed with mucus. Seeing bright red blood is always a shock, and in that moment, I was terrified. I kept praying that it was just a severe stomach ulcer, but I knew I needed immediate medical attention.
Seeking Answers: The Diagnosis
I did not wait around. I rushed to get an upper GI endoscopy as quickly as possible. During the procedure, doctors get a direct look inside the stomach lining to see exactly what is causing the bleeding.
The endoscopy revealed a mass, and a subsequent CT scan confirmed the terrifying reality: I had a tumor in my stomach the exact size of a billiard ball.
A biopsy was performed on the mass, which officially confirmed it was a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor, commonly known as a GIST. Unlike other stomach cancers, GISTs start in the specialized nerve cells found in the wall of the digestive tract. Because they grow in the stomach wall, they can easily rupture and bleed, which explained the sudden lightheadedness and the blood I had vomited.
The Road to Recovery
I underwent surgery to have the billiard ball-sized mass completely removed. Facing a cancer diagnosis and surgery is daunting, but taking swift action saved my life. Today, I am fully recovered and all better.
What You Need to Know: Signs You Shouldn’t Ignore
Looking back, my body gave me very clear signs that something was critically wrong. If you or a loved one experience any of these symptoms, please do not wait to seek medical help:
- Sudden, severe stomach pain
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint (signs of potential internal bleeding)
- Vomiting blood (which can be bright red or look like coffee grounds)
- Feeling full very quickly when eating
- Unexplained exhaustion or weakness
Trust your gut—literally. Hoping for the best is natural, but getting the right scans and biopsies as quickly as possible is what truly makes the difference.
