Help David Orr Beat Cancer!

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In October of 2021, my brother David went in for a repeat CT scan; his doctor was “keeping an eye on” what they believed to be a benign mass on his liver. He assumed no news was good news…

In April of this year, during a routine office visit, David asked about the CT results. To his astonishment, his doctor was unaware he ever had the CT performed; she claimed the results were never reported to her by the radiology center. What came next was our worst nightmare: the results showed masses spread throughout his abdominal cavity.

Six months had lapsed by this point, and new scans showed significant disease progression. An oncology referral was made, and with that came more unexpected twists and turns. The oncologist reviewed his chart and felt confident it was actually a rare but very treatable cancer: Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). PMP originates in the appendix and produces mucinous cells which can mimic more aggressive and lethal cancers. The treatment, known as HIPEC, involves a 10-12 hour cytoreductive surgery, followed by chemotherapy that is heated and applied directly to the abdominal cavity. Only 15 medical facilities in the U.S. perform more than a dozen of these procedures per year. Luckily, David was referred to University of Washington, a high volume HIPEC medical center with a great reputation, just 3 hours away. We were more optimistic than ever!

Unfortunately, the referral process was slow, and insurance approval even slower. By the time we met with the UW medical team, so much time had lapsed they needed repeat CT and PET scans, a repeat colonoscopy, and of course biopsies. The time lost was critical; the cancer had progressed to the point where HIPEC was no longer a viable option. The biopsies also indicated this was not PMP, but in fact a more aggressive cancer.

So we prepare ourselves for a bigger fight. Our game plan is to try and knock the cancer down a few notches with six months of aggressive chemotherapy, so that HIPEC can once again be considered. They warned him that not everyone is able to handle the intense regimen, but it was his best chance of success. I’m happy to report David has three rounds of chemo under his belt, and has been a rock star! Chemotherapy days are a grueling six hours long, yet you will find him cutting up with the infusion room nurses with his dry wit and infectious laugh. David is never one to complain, and certainly not one to ask for help. So that’s why I’m here.

We have a long road ahead of us, and the medical expenses are already piling up. Like all too many of us, David’s insurance only covers a fraction of the costs. Because of the intensity, David has had to cut back to part-time hours at his job. The last thing I want him to worry about right now is money; his focus should be on kicking this cancer’s ass! If you are in a position to help out, however small, please consider donating to this cause.

Much love and gratitude,

Gretchen