Peter Christopher Seeback was an outstanding son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew and friend who was taken tragically on October 18th, 2016 after a three and a half year battle with cancer. Peter suffered from a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), which is a rare type of cancer that like many rare cancer forms is becoming more common place and has few treatment options. 

What is a Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs)?

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are uncommon tumours of the GI tract. These tumours start in very early forms of special cells found in the wall of the GI tract, called the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs). ICCs are cells of the autonomic nervous system, the part of the nervous system that regulates body processes such as digesting food. ICCs are sometimes called the “pacemakers” of the GI tract because they signal the muscles in the digestive system to contract to move food and liquid through the GI tract.

More than half of GISTs start in the stomach. Most of the others start in the small intestine, but GISTs can start anywhere along the GI tract. A small number of GISTs start outside the GI tract in nearby areas such as the omentum (an apron-like layer of fatty tissue that hangs over the organs in the abdomen) or the peritoneum (the layer of tissue that lines the organs and walls of the abdomen).

The only way we can beat this enemy and stop it from taking our family and friends away is if we help fund the research that will one day find a cure. The more we give, the faster we can get results and see significant change in our lifetimes.

All funds donated through this page will support the work of the Canadian Cancer Society.  The Society makes more impact, against more cancers, in more communities, than any other cancer charity in Canada. 

Peter would have loved to have seen a cure to cancer, so in his memory we will do our best to find one.

Thank you for your gift