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2016

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2014

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2013

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2012

Life Fest†Special Edition October

August

June

April

February

2011

December

October

August

June

April

February

2010

December

October

Life Fest Special Edition

April

February

2009

December

October

September Clinical Trials Bulletin

  • Smarter Cancer Research: Finding a better way to survival.

August Clinical Trials Bulletin

July Clinical Trials Bulletin

June Clinical Trials Bulletin

May Clinical Trials Bulletin

April Clinical Trials Bulletin

March

February

January

2008

December

November

October

  • A message from the Executive Director

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

2007

December

November

October

September

August

July

  • First LRG webcast is successful
  • Looking for kinase mutations in GISTs: how, when and why?
  • A stitch in time: life with GIST can still exist
  • Highlights from ASCO 2007
  • Once a teacher, always a teacher
  • Community Beat: Relay for Life and Lecointe official picture
  • July 2007 clinical trial update
  • LRG in the News: Wall Street Journal article
  • Florida GISTers meet
  • Local Groups Get Together: Southern California & Michigan.

June

May

  • KIT & PDGFRA mutations in GIST: A to Z
  • Clinical trial confirms Gleevec reduces recurrence
  • Immunotherapy trial strives to improve Gleevec response
  • Adjuvant Gleevec Q&A with Jonathan Trent and Jerry Call
  • From the Elysee to Le Monde, Lecointe can do it all
  • ‘Treatments, trials and trails, oh my’ but life must go on: Part 2
  • May 2007 clinical trial update
  • AMN107 (Tasigna) now open at Fox Chase Cancer Center
  • Editor’s Note: Dr. Daruka Mahadevan
  • Biomarkers presentation sparks interest at Dutch meeting
  • Ohio local group meets.

April

  • Gene microarray technology yields interesting results in the laboratory
  • Scherzer Editorial: companies need patent protection to help with future drug research
  • ‘Treatments, trials and trails, oh my’ but life must go on: Part 1
  • April 2007 clinical trial update
  • Fourth annual spring meeting of Swiss GIST patient group
  • Novel KIT inhibitor also targets a new suspect clinical trials to begin this year
  • Clinical Trial Table
  • LRG works with medical institutions on Familial GIST study
  • Simple two-gene test sorts out similar gastrointestinal cancers
  • Dutch LRG changes name and plans 2007 GIST meeting
  • John Leary, a wonderful father, husband, friend and student
  • Pediatric GIST is discussed at San Diego meeting
  • Israeli group holds its fifth monthly meeting.

March

  • The use of mouse models to help investigate GIST
  • Immunotherapy: a new hope for GIST treatment
  • Gleevec: revolutionizing GIST cancer treatment
  • March 2007 clinical trial update
  • Life Rafters raise $30,000 with third annual holiday campaign
  • Illustrating gives Greenwood comfort through his GIST battle
  • The Life Raft Group Facebook
  • Gratz, 64, fought a courageous battle
  • LRG Science Team meets in Chicago
  • Clinical Trial Tables.

February

  • Several new Web sites launched about GIST
  • Understanding GIST survival under imatinib treatment
  • Strategies and classes of potential GIST drugs
  • Painting transformed Mayer’s pain into healing
  • Norwegian FAQs up on Web sites!
  • February 2007 clinical trial update.

January

  • Overcoming treatment resistance in GIST patients
  • The state of the Life Raft Group in 2006
  • Questions to consider for adjuvant treatment
  • Finding a silver-lining when living with cancer
  • Magic Leaves Fundraising Campaign
  • CancerCare Teleconference
  • Howe fought GIST courageously
  • Lee Cousins, age 58
  • January 2007 clinical trial update
  • Georgia Life Raft Group
  • Tran, 39, traveled across the world to find a cure for GIST
  • Hospital tips: the small stuff can add up.

2006

December

  • European conferences attract GIST medical professionals
  • Call comments on phase III Sutent results
  • LRG Netherlands successfully hosts third annual meeting
  • Alabama LRG group meets for first time in Birmingham
  • Life Raft awards next round of research grants
  • Holiday Fundraising Campaign
  • Quilt auction brings Life Raft Group over $300
  • Rita Raj was an active women’s health advocate
  • December 2006 clinical trial update
  • Novartis meets in Monterrey, Mexico to jump start clinical trials
  • New Jersey Local Life Raft Group
  • First pediatric GISTer to tie the knot!
  • Flu Shots
  • Ohio Group meets with Dr. Manisha Shah of Ohio State University Medical Center
  • Chicago brings speakers to discuss GIST treatment options.

November

  • Life Fest: A Texas-sized success
  • Connecting the Dots: Call offers perspective on GIST trends
  • Researchers give update on GIST Resistance Project
  • Over $85,000 raised at New York City poker tournament
  • Betty Louise Rosenbluth–Celebrating 75 Years (1930-2006)
  • Relay for Life for Japanese GIST Patients
  • Holiday Fundraising Campaign
  • November 2006 clinical trial update
  • New websites launched for Italy and France LRG Groups
  • Coppede was an avid golfer and gardener
  • GIST Walk in memory of Peter Thomas
  • LRG member John Leary raises money for GIST research.

October

  • A message from the Executive Director
  • Coming Attractions
  • Five-Year-and-More GIST Survivors.

September

  • GIST patients and experts head to Dallas for Life Fest
  • Israeli GIST Group brings CIST clinical trial to Israel
  • Walking the GIST Trail again
  • GIST studies receive substantial interest at ASCO ’06 conference
  • Corless: mountain climber during ‘off’ and ‘on’ peak time
  • Cancer patient credits experiments for survival
  • Tap helps start sarcoma program at UCLA
  • Correction on AMG706 GIST trial article
  • New website launched for Global GIST Network
  • September 2006 clinical trial update.

August

  • Life Fest 2006 agenda now available
  • More placebo clinical trials predicted for cancer patients
  • Life Raft Group reexamines the role of drug level testing
  • Surgery and genotyping highlighted at ASCO conference
  • AMG 706 will not get FDA approval for GIST
  • Case scenario of patient treatment adherence
  • Opinion on surgery for metastatic GIST
  • The first pediatric GIST review board: creating a virtual center of excellence
  • Gleevec still beneficial, despite evidence of heart disease
  • Pastor Paul Isaak lived his life for everyone
  • Washington Life Raft Group
  • GIST patient groups convene in Budapest
  • New website launched for Global GIST Network.

July

  • Life Raft meets with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Mutational testing predicts GIST treatment response
  • Novartis-Schering drug vatalanib produces interesting early results
  • Debiec-Rychter sees research group as an orchestra
  • Medicare Surprise: Why many seniors could temporarily lose drug coverage
  • Editorial: The time for routine mutational testing has come
  • Life Raft meets with Infinity about IPI-504
  • Murphy battled GIST for 7 years
  • AMG706 continues testing as second line drug for Gleevec-resistant GIST patients
  • Life Fest 2006 in Dallas, TX September 15-17, 2006
  • Dutch Life Raft Group receives national recognition
  • ASCO reports Sutent as important drug for pediatric GIST
  • Global GIST adds new GIST representatives
  • The benefits of Health Savings Accounts.

June

  • Clinical trial initiative to be launched in Mexico
  • EORTC Study: Progression-free survival improves for 800 mg vs. 400 mg patients
  • Learn how to appeal an insurance claim
  • Vasella, CEO of Novartis, will appear at Life Fest 2006
  • A continued discussion on optimizing therapy for GIST
  • Palmer bids adieu as Life Raft newsletter editor
  • Life Raft publishes 2005 annual report
  • Laughter helps sisters battle the GIST dragon
  • Global GIST Network adds new representatives
  • Roy Barton, 69, battled GIST for five years
  • June 2006 clinical trial update for GIST patients
  • Highlights from the American Association for Cancer Research meeting
  • Thoughts from the Executive Director
  • Largest West Coast gathering of GIST’ers
  • Chicago Life Raft chapter focuses on ‘positive thinking’.

May

  • Membership meeting will include Pediatric GISTers
  • Reflections on lessons learned from First Pediatric Weekend
  • Understanding pediatric GIST may provide important clues
  • Antonescu helps break ground on pediatric GIST
  • A wedding in the Life Raft Group
  • Stephanie Kastner shares her trip to the Western Caribbean
  • What Cancer Cannot Do
  • We all have different ways of coping with having cancer v Living life to the fullest
  • May 2006 clinical trial update for GIST patients.

March – April

  • Life Raft funds 10 research projects
  • Dallas hosts Life Fest ’06 Sept. 15-17
  • Maybe There Is A Better Way
  • March clinical trial update for resistant GIST
  • PedsChat, the first pediatric GIST listserv
  • Mansfields look to the future despite worries
  • Optimizing therapy for GIST: A discussion
  • Imatinib resistance focus of intense study
  • The LRG Research Team
  • Maj. Quigley fought GIST 9 years
  • Pediatric GIST Newsletter plans launch this spring
  • Patient status after four years on Gleevec
  • Global GIST Network adds New Ireland representative
  • Locks of Love
  • Help keep the Life Raft afloat!
  • Deep in the heart of Texas.

February

  • Standard treatment guidelines for GIST
  • GIST’ers share their Sutent experiences
  • Life Raft coming attractions
  • Explosion of GIST information raises questions
  • Setting 2006 goals at LRG headquarters
  • GIST Q&A with Dr. Peter Reichardt
  • GIST gathering in London
  • Allan Tobes–A celebration of life
  • A roundup of clinical trials
  • Global GIST Network adds new representatives
  • Russ South was 67
  • Appealing Medicare’s Gleevec quantity limits Award named in memory of Nancy Ann Hughes Welsh.

January

  • Sutent given U.S. approval
  • Challenges ahead for the GIST community
  • Infinity launches trial of IPI-504 vs. GIST
  • Fight GIST and follow your dream
  • GIST 101: Cell division and cancer
  • Navigating Medicare Prescription Drug Plan D
  • Battling fatigue after the holidays
  • GIST Resistance strategic plan completed.

2005

December

  • GIST and Gleevec: 5 years of progress
  • Brian Rubin: snowboarder to dedicated pathologist
  • Prescription health coverage: A tale of different doughnuts
  • The youngest Life Rafter shares her advice about coping with cancer
  • Cordelia Salas, devoted wife and mother
  • Second national contact day for the Life Raft Group Nederlands
  • Clinical trial updates as of December 2005.

November

  • A leader in the battle to defeat GIST
  • Resistant GIST may fall to new inhibitor
  • Sile Bao: Growing up with GIST
  • Kids with cancer take the stage at ArtWorks 2005
  • Second poker tournament brings in $61,000 for LRG
  • Pamphlet on pediatric GIST goes to school
  • An overview of CTOS 2005
  • ATTENTION: Medicare-eligible Gleevec patients
  • Online Q&A from the Life Raft Group
  • Thanksgiving Campaign.

September – October

  • First strategic plan to address treatment resistance started
  • Meet the LRG Community
  • Launching the Global GIST Network
  • Life Raft members share medical solutions
  • German GIST group new plan of action
  • Daniel Wieland was a farmer, dairyman
  • Walk for Cure another success
  • Dr. Lewis Thorp will be remembered
  • LRG Coming Attractions
  • LRG Thanksgiving Campaign To Match Challenge Grant
  • Roberta Gibson was LRG’s first accountant
  • Patricia H. Novicki was 77
  • Flu Shots
  • Clinical trials target resistant GIST

July – August

  • AMN107+Gleevec clinical trial opens Testing will be on just 35 patients at six sites, two of them in the U.S.
  • FDA fast-tracks approval process for Sutent
  • Overcoming resistance is groupís goal Strategic planning group formed, many of the top GIST researchers sign on
  • GISTíers strike just the right note These three Life Rafters discover healing power, spiritual release in music
  • New insights to multi-drug resistance
  • Life Rafter has sky-high plans
  • Michigan Rafters take to the water
  • Patient groups gather in Ireland
  • Big turnout at Chicago area meeting
  • First Gleevec class marks 5th anniversary
  • Life Raft board meets in Chicago
  • Register online for GIST research fundís Oct. 2 Walk for a Cure
  • Questions and answers from our members
  • Henry Lange Jr., farmer, veteran, outdoorsman, was 69
  • Terri Stevens, restaurateur and 15-year GIST survivor
  • Daniel Raymond Hoffman, 58, was a decorated veteran

June

  • $2 million pledged for GIST research: Life Raft will use grant from Novartis to focus on resistant tumors
  • Young GIST patients find unity, hope Families find strength in numbers, form bonds at pediatric GIST gathering Advances reported at 2005 ASCO meeting
  • Sutent appears headed for approval
  • AMG706 active vs. solid tumors
  • PKC412+Gleevec: stability for some
  • Carol Donnellís gift: Seeing potential in others
  • Jim Boucher was the favorite teacher of many
  • Rob Danielson, 54, survived 12 years

April-May

  • Ignorance is bliss, but not about GIST
  • Beyond Gleevec: The next-era drugs for GIST
  • Pediatric GIST family gathering near
  • Progress against GIST inches ahead
  • Medical mistakes happen, sometimes in a big way
  • Life Rafters gather in Southern California
  • Maher Samet of Tunisia, good friend and father
  • Alan Fink, 45, loved riding, family and friends.
  • Life Raft Group directors accept challenge grant
  • Nancy Welsh, 37, survived GIST for more than 14 years
  • Battle with GIST brought Avraham Anidjar to the U.S.
  • In Brief: Gleevec + KRX-0401, AMN107, RAD, Calendar Gleevec, vitamin C and insulin slows disease
  • What does love mean?

March

  • Many drugs coming for Gleevec-resistant GIST
  • She knew all was not right but diagnosis took 5 years Joan Marie Hayno has been NED thanks to surgery and Gleevec
  • Life Rafters meet in Amsterdam, Prague
  • PKC412 fights Gleevec-resistant GIST
  • Plans laid for global GIST network
  • Life Raft joins European Cancer Patient Coalition
  • Druker updates stem cell research
  • Life Raft Group calendar of coming events
  • GCRF presents first $25,000 gift
  • Can you name that country?
  • Toledo Daze
  • Barry Cushing, distinguished professor, was 59
  • Chicago area Life Rafters meet at Wellness Place

February

  • SU11248 works, trial ends 7 months early
  • †Fifty-one weeks from diagnosis to remission Gleevec, surgery, family, friends, and prayer key to a new lease on life
  • Pediatric GIST families to meet in New York
  • Why SU11248 works when Gleevec fails
  • Leukemia researchers strive for a cure
  • Gastric GIST behaves better than expected
  • Arizona group meets despite record rainfall
  • Rudi Holzapfel, Irish poet, battled 3Ω years

January

  • Editorial: Time on fire Dying patients canít get new drugs that could save their lives
  • Study: Gleevec levels decrease over time
  • Life Raft board of directors adds 12th member
  • Rafi Aghababaian, 38, fought GIST for two years
  • Fletcher gives Axelrad lecture at CTOS
  • Fletcher tells Life Rafters of new type of trial
  • Pediatric GIST families mobilize U.S. agency puts AMG 706 on fast track

2004

November – December

  • Life Raft study presented at CTOS annual meeting: Staring vs. actual dose significant
  • Fundraising charges on: GIST Walk tops $90,000 for GIST research, Team LRG Completes New York City Marathon, Poker Tournament nets over $47,000 for Life Raft,
  • Life Raft Group Second Annual Fundraising Drive Off to Good Start
  • Putting Gleevec Tablets in Glycerin Capsules Raises Serious Concerns
  • Life Raft Research Team meets with European Researchers
  • Life Raft Hosts First Pediatric GIST Conference
  • Novartis Scientists Review Status of Drugs in Pipeline
  • Chicago LRG Takes On Fundraising Role
  • Life Raft in Warsaw for Patient Advocacy Conference
  • Life Raft Group at CTOS 2004 Montreal, Canada
  • A Review of the Posters and Papers at CTOS
  • Das Lebenshaus Visits the Life Raft Group Office

October

  • Life Raft study presented at Life Raft launches annual fund-raiser,
  • Money needed to fund education, advocacy, research, initiatives
  • On board! Meet Silvia Steinhilber, Canada resident, native of Germany, newlywed!
  • Novartis to help patients on Medicare Novartis will work with new drug coverage to ensure Gleevec supply
  • Dozens attend first national gathering of Dutch Life Raft
  • GIST mutation top cause Gleevec failure
  • Pamela Bowden was a dancer, figure skater
  • John Mabee is survived by his wife of 18 years, four children
  • Michigan area Life Rafters hear “GIST 101”
  • A survival paradigm for GIST
  • Thank you from China
  • Life Rafter members find solution to Gleevec tablet nausea.

September

  • Life Raft study presented at Glivec at higher doses combats progression Largest study of GIST finds 800 mg. keeps cancer at bay longer
  • Running for the Life Raft GIST survivor, friend to join New York marathon and help battle cancer
  • Fourth ëWalk for a Cureí happens Sunday in New York
  • European study confirms LRG findings on relapse
  • 192-mile bike ride = 1 luminometer
  • Life Raft Group Board of Directors will add five members come January Bernie Kaplan survived by wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters.

August

  • Nobel winner accepts Life Raft Group award – Watsonís co discovery of the structure of DNA provided the foundation for targeted cancer treatment.
  • When the patient is a doctor Dr. Arnold Kwart learns what life is like on the other side of the desk
  • UK prepares to OK Glivec for GIST
  • Her dadís story: Thriving on lifeís lemons
  • Pam Barckett knows orphan disease
  • Worldwide GIST Calendar
  • Hayami-san faced GIST with ëganbatteí
  • More study needed to determine optimal Gleevec dose
  • September Newsletter Coming Attractions
  • AMGEN launches phase ll clinical-No placebo
  • Dutch Life Rafters plan national gathering
  • Carol Berres persisted in lifeís journey

July

  • Hoping for a miracle, preparing for death Michael Matthews fought to survive the time gap between clinical trials
  • New drug holds promise for GISTís sister cancer
  • School aids teenís fight vs. GIST
  • Medicare lottery to cover Gleevec, for some
  • Error reported adjuvant Gleevec trial
  • Dr. Larry Baker addresses Michigan chapter
  • Update on new drugs with GIST potential
  • Chicago LRG chapter learns of Amgen trial
  • Life Raft T-shirts, pins now available
  • Life Raft is getting the word out about GIST
  • You can bet legislators will never play the Medicare lottery
  • GISTíers join for artist Ellen Mayerís solo exhibition in NYC
  • Lupe Zertuche battled GIST four years.

June

  • Cancer experts on GIST Gleevec dosage level is still unresolved at the 40th annual ASCO meet
  • GIST patients meet around the world
  • What dose Gleevec is best?
  • EDITORIAL† – A wish list for keeping GIST patients alive
  • Pathologists predict behavior of GIST
  • $50,000 awarded to GIST researchers
  • L.A. area GIST patients meet July 11.

May

  • GIST patients, experts meet at Life Fest 2004
  • Back from the brink When Gleevec fails and options narrow, stress brings on depression
  • Vasella awarded Stratton Prize
  • Life Raft aids GIST dads worldwide
  • Texas area chapter of the Life Raft meets Saturday, June 12
  • Pathologists share their data on GIST
  • Darlene Vaughan was an early Gleevec success story
  • Fourth annual Walk for a Cure set Oct. 10 in Congers, N.Y.
  • Sid Locker, 76, was WWII veteran, student counselor
  • Life Raft directors focus on resistance at Orlando meeting.

April

  • Meet the top GIST experts at Life Fest
  • AACR reports on drugs with GIST possibilities
  • Higher doses of Gleevec work best for CML
  • Life Rafters meet in San Jose, Costa Rica
  • Tentative agenda for Life Fest 2004
  • The best part of surgery
  • In Memoriam: Curtis Berry, 42, fought GIST three years
  • Arthur ëADí Rhea involved with his community.

March

  • Placebo raises stress level of GIST patients
  • Final plans under way for Florida ëLife Fest.í
  • Another resource for Chicago area patients
  • Pediatric GIST collaboration advances
  • Donít beat cancer ó outrun it
  • Chicago chapter holds its sixth meeting
  • In Memoriam: Dean Gordanierís talents knew no borders
  • Gust Vasiliades, 38, loved art, music and life
  • Carolyn Lenkszus battled GIST 11 years
  • Wife, two daughters survive Jerry Sidfrid.

February

  • Gleevec vs. GIST trial at 3 years
  • Test to predict Gleevec response expands
  • Texas area gathering draws 30 Life Rafters
  • Artist, musician, filmmaker Donald Kew was 43
  • Roy, Margolis team to improve LRG Web site
  • Few of our issues are theoretical
  • Membership Meeting
  • Outreach to Hungary
  • Medicare reform struggles on
  • PKC412 trial update
  • Loyola utilizes team approach to GIST.

January

  • Editorial Placebo use in Pfizer trial simply wrong
  • U.S., Germany launch ëGleevec comboí trial
  • Little progress with Pfizer over placebo issue
  • Texas-area meeting planned Feb. 7 in Dallas
  • Tuomas Hemminki, 41, fought GIST three years
  • SU11248 clinical trials are beginning
  • Chicagoís Evanston aims for excellence
  • Pictures Dr.s Reichardt and Blanke
  • At the Jan. 15 meeting with Novartis, the Life Raft Groupís Jerry Call, center, is pictured with Dr. Bin Peng, Ph.D., senior clinical lead pharmacokineticist, and Barbara Kennedy, executive director
  • Oncology Scientific Operations
  • Tuomas Hemminki shows off his nice catch last July while at the family cottage at Lake Inari.

2003

November – December

  • Placebo use in Pfizer trial raises fears
  • Running for dad, and GIST patients worldwide
  • Life Raft, Sloan-Kettering to battle pediatric GIST
  • Poss, Byrne, Book named to board of directors
  • Lowering dose not advised
  • Swiss representative has busy fall
  • New York Life Rafters meet at Gildaís Club
  • Brockstein speaks of Chicago area group Pictures: Partners against pediatric GIST
  • Lisa Roth,† and sister Lorie Roth Cudzil are seen near the finish line of the Philadelphia Marathon
  • Pfizer and Life Raft Group members at the meeting at Pfizer headquarters
  • Tom Overley and Norman Scherzer arrive Nov. 11 at Pfizerís corporate headquarters in NewYork City.
  • Pictured at the entrance to in the Life Raft Group office in Wayne, N.J. John Poss, Norm Scherzer, Anita Scherzer, Bob Book, Stan Bunn, Dr. Arnold Kwart, Bernie Kaplan, Dean Gordanier and Allan Tobes.
  • Jerry and Lorie Cudzil Ulrich Schnorff.

October

  • Chicago area patients seek a ‘center of excellence’
  • Progress on fund-raising and many other fronts
  • Rain can’t dampen record ‘Walk for a Cure’
  • Phase III trial of SU11248: Some questions and concerns
  • The doctor had good news and bad news: Bonnie Girard
  • Frank Weigand, 66, fought GIST 13 years
  • Pictures: Tania Stutman and her grandchildren and friends at the Walk Life Raft Lunch: Tricia McAleer, Norman Scherzer, Pam Barckett, Steve Rigg, Jim Roy, Bernie Kaplan
  • Robert Stutman at the Walk
  • Bonnie and Mike Girard Bonnie Girard and grandchildren
  • Frank and Ruth Weigand

September

  • Symposium to focus solely on GI cancer
  • Dear Diary: To the brink and back
  • Fund-raising drive planned for Thanksgiving
  • First visitors to new Life Raft office are Californians
  • Life Raft Group’s ‘legal team’ meets in Boston
  • Southern California Life Rafters gather
  • Loyola doctors focus on STAT3 signaling
  • GIST’ers strike rich friendship at The Nugget
  • Walk for a Cure slated Oct. 19 in New York
  • Patricia Ford, 48, was a teacher’s aide in Polo, III
  • Maryann Klein, 56, participated in 3 clinical trials
  • Memorial gifts benefit the Life Raft
  • Pictures: LRG committee meeting in Detroit
  • Ilkka Ovaska and daughter Sirpa
  • First visitors at new LRG office
  • Southern California Life Rafters
  • Fund-raising committee, GIST’ers at The Nugget restaurant in California
  • Patricia Ford

August

  • Sugen offers option when Gleevec fails
  • GIST patients see new clinical trials
  • Directory of GIST experts in formation
  • Life Rafters hold New Jersey luau
  • Global sales of Gleevec up 102% in first half of ’03
  • Canadian Life Rafters gather at Jordan Station
  • Life Raft on the move!
  • Friends, family mourn Laura Blanchette, 47
  • Cancer boring? Andrea Fuller knows just what will get the juices flowing
  • Pictures: Andrea Fuller
  • New York Area BBQ
  • Canadian Life Rafters

July

  • Glivec OK’d for GIST in Japan, Israel
  • Targets, targeted therapy reports abound at AARC
  • Life Raft reach spans the globe
  • Dutch Life Rafters gather in Ridderkerk
  • LifeLine Pilots: The shortest distance between home and hope
  • Life Raft Events Going global: Each country has a unique bureaucracy
  • William Lawson, 56, a lifelong resident of Lafayette
  • Pictures: Dutch Life Raft Chapter
  • David Josephy
  • LRG Dallas BOD Meeting

June

  • Life Raft at ASCO
  • Sugen drug an option if Gleevec fails
  • Studies differ over 400 mg. vs. 800 mg.
  • Gleevec tablets just as good as capsules
  • Life Raft raises research questions (editorial)
  • Study: GIST can outwit Gleevec four ways
  • Test reveals who’ll respond to Gleevec
  • Story of Gleevec told in “Magic Cancer Bullet”
  • Pictures: LRG Volunteers at ASCO
  • Dr. Michael Heinrich
  • Norman & Anita Scherzer with Dan Vasella

May

  • The Life Raft travels to Switzerland
  • New drug outwits Gleevec resistance
  • OHSU rolls out red carpet for GIST’ers
  • Chicago area group gears up for ASCO
  • Pictures: LRG members at OHSU
  • Dr. Heinrick of OHSU
  • LRG Executive Director Norman Scherzer and Dr. Dan Vasella, CEO of Novartis
  • LRG members in Switzerland
  • The Salas Family in Cancun

April

  • Relapse survey
  • John Weir’s story
  • Cancer legislation needs support
  • Pictures: John Weir
  • LRG members at Novartis John Weir ID
  • LRG members in NJ
  • relapse data (table)
  • Kathy and John Weir
  • John Weir Day May 7

March

  • Protein defect linked to GIST
  • Sarah’s rants and raves
  • Access to Cancer Therapies Act
  • Stephen Larsen’s letter on GIST research needs
  • LRG launches relapse survey
  • Pictures: Bob Buch
  • Sarah and Bob Buch
  • Kerrie, Stephen, and William-Grant Larsen
  • Dr. Michael Heinrich
  • Marina and Keith Symcox
  • Representative Pryce Sarah and Bob Buch in Alaska
  • Michael and Mia Byrne fund raising in costume
  • Mehreen Hai letter

February

  • Protein defect linked to GIST
  • Sarah’s rants and raves
  • Access to Cancer Therapies Act
  • Stephen Larsen’s letter on GIST research needs
  • LRG launches relapse survey
  • Pictures: Bob Buch
  • Sarah and Bob Buch Kerrie, Stephen, and William-Grant Larsen
  • Dr. Michael Heinrich
  • Marina and Keith Symcox
  • Representative Pryce Sarah and Bob Buch in Alaska
  • Michael and Mia Byrne fund raising in costume
  • Mehreen Hai letter

January

  • Maura Cesarini “True Love and Cancer”
  • Life Raft alliance with AFIP
  • GIST research and tumor bank
  • Chicago LRG chapter meets
  • Arizona rafter gathering
  • Novartis contact information
  • Southern California chapter meeting
  • Internet sites with cancer information
  • Pictures: Maura Cesarini
  • LRG/AFIP meeting
  • Maura, Mike, Michaella, and Bella Cesarini
  • Chicago chapter meeting
  • Dr. Harvey Wolf
  • Elaine Rys, Paula Vettel, Gwen Lawson Billie Baldwin, Dick Kinzig, Eleanor Lewis, Darlene Vaughan
  • Califonia meeting

2002

December

  • Mel Heller at 80
  • Sugen drug shrinks tumors in 25% of patients
  • GIST more common than thought
  • Life Raft raising funds to match Novartis grant
  • Michigan and Illinois area meetings planned
  • Howard Delapenha obituary
  • Pictures: Irmgard and Mel Heller, Scherzer, Bunn, Mel and Irmgard Heller (2)

November

  • Connective Tissue Oncology Meeting in San Francisco
  • Max Foundation provides Gleevec outside North America
  • Glivec/chemo combinations
  • Bernie Kaplan
  • Fishing in the Amazon (John Poss)
  • Nora Shaulis obituary
  • Pictures: Norman Scherzer at CTOS
  • Bernie and Bracha Kaplan with Dan Vasella
  • John Poss fishing in the Amazon
  • David and Nora Shaulis
  • Elsie Hernandez and Michael Josephy.

October

  • Terry Jennings’ story new Life Raft office opens in NJ
  • Medicare coverage of Gleevec unlikely
  • Life Rafter meeting in Arizona
  • Pictures: the Jennings family
  • Tricia McAleer Matthew Mattioli James Roy
  • Arizona gathering

September

  • London GIST meeting, resistance grows?, antibody tests suspect in some cases
  • David Cook new LRG coordinator for UK
  • Rodrigo Salas and Ulrich Schnorf join board
  • Second GIST WALK for a Cure (Tania)
  • Michael Byrne, the world’s healthiest GIST patient
  • Illinois chapter of LRG first meeting
  • Christian LRG member sub-group
  • In Memoriam
  • Pictures: Tania and Robert Stutman’s grandchildren
  • Tania’s GIST walk
  • Michael, Mia, and Matthew Byrne
  • Michael Byrne “Number 571”
  • Southern California Life Rafters
  • Illinois chapter Dick Kinzig and Margo Shoup

July – August

  • Team FLAMES rides the Pan-Mass Challenge once again
  • Novartis donates $250,000 to the Life Raft Group
  • President’s message from Stan Bunn
  • Carol Berres’ journey to hope
  • Todd Hendrickson obituary
  • Science Team report: KIT still primary therapy target
  • Life Raft organizational changes
  • Pictures: Norman and Anita Scherzer with Dan Vasella
  • Carol Berres
  • Joan Canniff and Gary Golnik
  • Todd, Janet, Tyler, Max, and T.J. Hendrickson
  • Stan and William Bunn

June

  • UK board denies Gleevec due to costs
  • Gleevec approved for GIST in Europe
  • Novartis wins Galien Proze for Gleevec
  • Dave Cook’s story
  • Jerry Rylant and Jill Meyer obituaries
  • Tuomas and the T-shirt
  • LRG financial report
  • Pictures: Cordelia and Dan Vasella
  • Dave, Irene and Laura Cook
  • Ana Maria Baldor-Bunn
  • Tuomas models the T-shirt

May

  • May meeting photos and stories
  • ASCO conference in Florida
  • Marina Symcox and Dan Vasella
  • LRG organizational meeting
  • Novartis/DFCI Q&A
  • LRG candle ceremony

April

  • Combined Gleevec/surgery trial
  • SU011248 testing begins
  • Boston gathering notes
  • Ana Baldor-Bunn, Mary Golnik, Jacob Waller, George Wolf obituaries
  • Laura, Ben and Jacob Cooley
  • Marina Symcox’s journey from hospice to home
  • Novartis facts

March

  • Medicare Coverage of Gleevec sought
  • Boston meeting agenda and article
  • Harris poll results on Medicare coverage of oral cancer drugs
  • Dave Blender the “bread man”.
  • Pictured: Life Rafters meet in Toronto
  • Dave and Aaron
  • Tuomas and Dr. Joensuu
  • Life Rafters meet at DFCI

February

  • U.S. OK’s Gleevec for GIST
  • Life Raft gathering set May 3-4 in Boston
  • Demetri: Gleevec a “global collaboration”
  • Montague friends give $2,600 to Life Raft Group
  • Life Rafters remembered during visit to Holy Land
  • Robert Carr, Robert Lecca obituaries
  • Pictured: Lunch at Scherzer’s home
  • meeting in Ontario, Canada
  • Richard and Cindy

January

  • Life Raft’s Carl Banker carries Olympic flame
  • Gleevec on way to being No. 1 treatment for CML
  • Developer of Gleevec carries Olympic torch
  • Pictured: Life Rafters Rob, Laura
  • the Byrnes, Penny, Elsie and Michael

2001

December

  • Lobbying sought for Medicare reform
  • Legislators who support Medicare coverage
  • Meeting of minds at Dana-Farber
  • Marina Symcox: A tale of five Decembers
  • Pictured: Ronna and Dan in NYC
  • Tuomas in Finland
  • Bruce Gunn obituary

November

  • Novartis seeks U.S. OK to use Gleevec for GIST
  • From the editor: Silver lining in the cloud of cancer
  • Life Raft survey draws Novartis interest
  • Glivec approved in Europe for CML
  • FLAMES excel in Pan-Mass Challenge
  • New drug offers hope for Marcel Szyszkowski
  • Pictured: Silver anniversary
  • Life Rafters in Portland
  • Vince in Egypt
  • Michael and Matthew

October

  • Special Side Effect Survey issue
  • GIST walk raises $23,000+ fund nears $40,000
  • Life Raft patients report fatigue is top side effect

September

  • Side effects surgery goal near as deadline looms
  • GIST walk set Sept. 16 in New York state
  • Glivec moves closer to European approval
  • Ehud Nehemya, Jeffrey Prichard, Ron G. Martinez obituaries
  • Pictured: GIST survivor Henry Lange Jr.
  • Anita Scherzer then and now

July – August

  • GIST researcher Blanke share “our” Gleevec experience
  • Oral cancer medication legislation wins support
  • Pictured: Life Rafters on top of Miss Liberty, snorkeling in Hawaii

June

  • Life Raft patients share responses, side effects
  • ACOR starts lobbying for Medicare coverage
  • Life Rafters gather in New York City
  • Coordinator’s column: GIST has become a chronic disease
  • Novartis researcher honored for work on Gleevec
  • Amy Barney, Jim Perham obituaries

May

  • Gleevec OK’d by FDA for leukemia
  • Law drafted to change Medicare’s anti-oral drug policy
  • “Off label” use worries Gleevec researchers
  • Novartis ships Gleevec within 24 hours of FDA approval
  • Journal reports on clinical trial patient No. 1
  • Pictured: Ehud and Ophir, “Crazy Canucks.”

April

  • Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella: Glivec should clear hurdles
  • Dr. George Demetri: Real progress with real people, thanks to the global community
  • Survey: Gender plays a role in side effects
  • STI-5711/GIST trials at 200+ U.S. hospitals
  • Pictured: Life Rafters at OHSU in Portland, Dana-Farber in Boston

March

  • Novartis seeks approval of Glivec worldwide
  • Notes on STI571 from leukemia group at OHSU
  • LRG Coordinator’s reflections
  • Todd Hendrickson, Life Rafter with a lot to live for
  • Jim Ackerman obituary

February

  • Survey of Life Raft Group members reveals high response rate
  • Forbes’ Magazine’s on how STI571 was fast-tracked
  • New trial sites
  • Life Rafter Michael Byrne skis!

January

  • Dr. Brian Druker, developer of STI571, offers end-of-the-year thoughts
  • STI571 trials expand into third phase
  • Glivec resistance a concern but optimism prevails

2000

December

  • Glivec, new name for STI571
  • Dosage and response rate
  • Interesting Web site
  • Life Raft symptom survey, news in brief
  • Kinases chart