{
  "id": 1349767,
  "title": "Life After... gastrointestinal stromal tumour: Battle with cancer helps entrepreneur get to the gist of life",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/life-after-gastrointestinal-stromal-tumour-battle-with-cancer-helps",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-16T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times",
    "slug": "straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/life-after-gastrointestinal-stromal-tumour-entrepreneur-gets-to-the-gist-of-life-after-rare-cancer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In June 2019, Singaporean entrepreneur Marcus Chiang, 40, began experiencing severe abdominal pain while on a trip with his Malaysian wife and her family in Ipoh. Doctors discovered a mass in his small intestine during an endoscopy and ultrasound, which led to his diagnosis of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) at the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS). GIST is a rare cancer that affects about one in every 100,000 people, with only 47 new cases seen annually at NCCS. Chiang's case was unusual as GIST typically affects those in their 60s or older.\n\nThe 47-year-old underwent surgery to remove the tumour, and was prescribed imatinib, a medication targeting cancers, for three years due to his high risk of recurrence. Chiang felt lost and confused by his diagnosis, as GIST is rare and harder to discuss with others. The Covid-19 pandemic further complicated matters, leading to the breakdown of his marriage and subsequent divorce in 2022.\n\nChiang channeled his experience into personal growth, pursuing a master's degree in smart cities design and focusing on his health and fitness post-diagnosis. His relationship with his girlfriend, Rachel Tan, also blossomed during this period. However, in February 2023, a recurrence of the tumour was detected, and Chiang was placed back on imatinib. Another recurrence was found in November 2023, followed by a third operation in May 2025 to remove a 5cm tumour. Despite these challenges, Chiang and Tan got married in September 2025 and now run two businesses together.",
  "summary": "Gastrointestinal stromal tumour is a rare type of sarcoma which starts in the stomach or intestine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}