Paul Schaye, Thriving Beyond GIST Cancer

Paul Schaye, Thriving Beyond GIST Cancer

In 2006, while training for the New York City Marathon, Paul Schaye thought he had simply strained his back. After making a quick call to a friend working at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), his minor injury turned into something much larger. “I got an x-ray, and my back was fine,” Paul recalls. “But they saw something they didn’t like. The next day, after a scan, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor—GIST, a rare form of cancer.”

Once diagnosed, Paul jumped into action to assemble a team of medical professionals and advocates. Through his network riding the Pan-Mass Challenge for more than a decade, he was quickly connected to Dr. George Demetri at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a leader in GIST research. He was also referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York, where he was primarily treated under the care of Dr. Gary Schwartz, then head of the Sarcoma Service.

Paul began treatment right away with Gleevec, a then-new cancer pill. After nearly a year on the medication which successfully shrank his tumors, his team, including Drs. Demetri, Schwartz, and Ron DeMateo, then co-head of Surgery at MSKCC, agreed it was time to proceed with surgery. Over the years, he underwent three significant cancer surgeries, all performed by Dr. DeMateo. Notably, during the second surgery, DeMateo proceeded in a more aggressive manner than he might have otherwise—because he knew Paul not just as a patient, but as a person with clear goals and a strong will to live fully.

For Paul, being on a first-name basis with every doctor mattered.

“Getting to know your doctors in turn encourages your medical team to know who you are—your interests, your goals, your feelings about treatment which can make a big difference,” Paul explains.

This personal connection, he believes, helped his doctors collaborate across to provide the best treatment possible. Later, with Paul’s encouragement, Dr. Schwartz joined the Pan-Mass Challenge to benefit Dana-Farber, and Dr. Demetri rode Cycle for Survival in support of MSKCC.

From Patient to Thriver

For Paul, language matters. Rather than referring to himself as a cancer ‘survivor,’ he prefers to be seen as a ‘thriver’.

“For me, thriving means living fully.”

This outlook also drives his commitment to advocacy. Long before his diagnosis, Paul was a dedicated Pan-Mass Challenge rider. After his diagnosis, his friends rallied around him to form “Paul’s Posse,” a team that now rides and fundraises each year, supporting Dr. Demetri’s research directly. “It’s not just about my cancer anymore—it’s for everyone,” Paul says.

Life After Treatment

Outside of cancer advocacy, Paul is an entrepreneur and innovator. Alongside his career in finance, he is developing a new automotive safety technology: a front-facing brake light system designed to save pedestrian lives. Called ITELLMOTION, the device uses embedded LEDs in windshields to signal when cars are accelerating or slowing. “Every 70 minutes, a pedestrian is killed in this country,” Paul explains. “This can help change that.”

Paul credits his partner, Gretchen, for being by his side through long surgeries and recoveries. “It’s much harder being the caregiver than the patient,” he says with deep appreciation.

When asked what he would share with others facing a diagnosis like his, Paul is quick to reflect on what mattered most. He urges patients to assemble a strong medical team and never hesitate to seek second opinions. “Having a support system and personal advocates are essential,” he says, “lean on the people who can sit beside you in appointments, listen closely, and help recall details you may miss.” Paul also recommends keeping a living record of your diagnosis, treatments, and experiences, which can be a helpful resource when seeing doctors at different locations. Doing your own research, asking questions, and paying attention to mental health are equally critical.

Above all, Paul stresses the importance of optimism:

“A cancer diagnosis is daunting, confusing, and scary. Having a plan in place, options at the ready, and advocates by your side is critical to managing both the physical and mental challenges. Think of yourself as thriving, not just surviving—and keep going.”