The Life Raft Group is committed to enhancing the survival and quality of life for people living with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST), and other rare diseases, through patient-powered research, education and empowerment, and global advocacy efforts.
Other Programs Supported by The Life Raft Group:
PATIENT
Leverage patient perspective to drive innovative solutions in cancer research.
POWERED
Educate and empower patients to take a larger role in their care.
SCIENCE
Accelerate research outcomes through collaborative efforts.
FOR LIFE
Increase access to effective treatments worldwide.
Real World Evidence In Action
Traditional models for cancer research have resulted in many breakthrough treatments for patients, but it is not enough. The LRG’s approach to GIST research through real world evidence, relies on timely, accurate data from the patient’s perspective, with patient survival as the primary objective.
RECENT LRG DATA
Did you know that GIST is actually a family of cancers? Learn more about the science of GIST.
Dr. Monica Anderson
Diagnosed in 2012 with Adult GIST.
Bella Rocco
Diagnosed in 2009 with Pediatric
(SDH-deficient) GIST.
HELP US SAVE LIVES
The Life Raft Group is a community and it is up to all of us to make a difference. There are many ways to help. We always need patient tissue and data in our GIST patient registry. Volunteering your time or making a monetary donation also helps us drive research forward and save lives.
News
Save the Date – Women in Sarcoma Virtual Gala
Doctors, radiologists, nurses, social workers, pathologists, researchers and patients share their strength, hope, and experience with sarcoma patients and each other worldwide each day. The Life Raft Group is honoring a group of these women at the Women in Sarcoma with a Virtual Gala on December 10, at 6pm ET.
GIST & Creativity – MaKayla Evans, Medical Assistant, Artist, GISTer
Artistic expression is an important psychosocial activity. In this two-part series, these GISTers - professional and amateur creatives, share their stories. MaKayla Evans loves painting, drawing, and photography.
Thank You to Our Newest GEMs!
Become a GEM today! Our newly launched GEM Donor Program has a group of new donors that will [...]
Annual Report 2019
Our theme for 2019 was Travel with Us on the Path to Survival. GIST patients and caregivers are on a journey, seeking to survive this rare cancer. Our mission is to walk with them on their journey, providing resources to help them not only survive, but thrive. In 2019, there was a strong research component to our efforts, promoting the importance of real world data and real world evidence to enhance traditional research
Women in Sarcoma Program 2020
The Life Raft Group has developed the Women in Sarcoma program in recognition of the many women sarcoma specialists that engage with our organization and our patient and caregiver community.
Dr. Gina D’Amato Discusses Liquid Biopsy
Dr. Gina D'Amato, who appeared recently as moderator and contributor for the first Women in Sarcoma discussion panel, recorded a video discussing the use of liquid biopsy in sarcoma on OncTV for OncLive.
Pruebas genéticas costo efectivas para GIST recién diagnosticados
En un artículo publicado el 29 de septiembre de 2020 en la revista “JAMA Network Open”, Dr. Jason Sicklick, Moores Cancer Center, UCSD y sus colegas informaron que las pruebas genéticas son costo efectivas y beneficiosas para los pacientes recién diagnosticados con GIST metastásico.
The LRG and NIH Collaborate on Virtual Tumor Boards to Review Challenging Cases
In this issue of LRG Science, we highlight the power of collaboration in medicine with a recap of the Virtual Tumor Board co-hosted with the NIH. Due to the pandemic, The Life Raft Group was asked to organize a Virtual Tumor Board to assure that challenging cases were presented in order to help the patients and their treating physicians develop an effective treatment plan.
GLOBAL PARTNERS & AFFILIATIONS
