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Laurel’s Appendix Cancer Care Fund
Dear Friends,
In July I was diagnosed with appendix cancer.
Here is my story. Early in 2016 I went to the ER two times with extreme symptoms of nausea, random vomiting and acute abdominal pain that were each time attributed to food poisoning or the flu. On my third visit to the ER in June the doctor ordered a CT Scan and found what appeared to be a large mass on my appendix. I had major surgery on July 1st and the surgeon removed both the appendix and two large cysts, one on the appendix and one on the ovary. She also removed both ovaries, fallopian tubes and other tumor cells on the omentum.
I was soon diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition of Appendix Cancer. (There are only 1000 cases a year in the US.) The diseased cells had burst from the appendix and spread to the abdominal cavity. Without treatment the microscopic diseased cells, that are still there, will continue to slowly grow and eventually the tumors completely and totally disrupt the functioning of the abdominal area. In the past there was no cure for this type of cancer.
In January 2017 I am scheduled for a 6-8-hour surgery at UCSD, Moore's Cancer Center. The doctor will begin with a laparoscopic procedure (less invasive) and then if he sees diseased cells, that have grown since the last surgery, he will continue to a major surgery to remove visible tumors followed by a relatively new treatment called HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) with the goal of eliminating all microscopic diseased cells. I will be in the hospital anywhere between 10 days to 3 weeks.
If the doctor does not see diseased cells during the laparoscopic procedure, he will stop right there and not continue the surgery. In this scenario I would have CT scans twice a year to monitor the microscopic diseased cells however I would eventually have the major surgery and the HIPEC when the slow growing tumors appear.
I am feeling good now with no symptoms except... I have appendix cancer!
In the last year I have accrued expenses directly related to the cancer. I am starting a GoFundMe Campaign to help cover ongoing medical expenses, offsite housing near the hospital in January, and travel expenses to UCSD for appointments.
My GoFundMe Goal is $10,000. I greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to contribute and I hope to be back in full swing, with full energy soon—cancer free!
Dear Friends,
In July I was diagnosed with appendix cancer.
Here is my story. Early in 2016 I went to the ER two times with extreme symptoms of nausea, random vomiting and acute abdominal pain that were each time attributed to food poisoning or the flu. On my third visit to the ER in June the doctor ordered a CT Scan and found what appeared to be a large mass on my appendix. I had major surgery on July 1st and the surgeon removed both the appendix and two large cysts, one on the appendix and one on the ovary. She also removed both ovaries, fallopian tubes and other tumor cells on the omentum.
I was soon diagnosed with an extremely rare genetic condition of Appendix Cancer. (There are only 1000 cases a year in the US.) The diseased cells had burst from the appendix and spread to the abdominal cavity. Without treatment the microscopic diseased cells, that are still there, will continue to slowly grow and eventually the tumors completely and totally disrupt the functioning of the abdominal area. In the past there was no cure for this type of cancer.
In January 2017 I am scheduled for a 6-8-hour surgery at UCSD, Moore's Cancer Center. The doctor will begin with a laparoscopic procedure (less invasive) and then if he sees diseased cells, that have grown since the last surgery, he will continue to a major surgery to remove visible tumors followed by a relatively new treatment called HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) with the goal of eliminating all microscopic diseased cells. I will be in the hospital anywhere between 10 days to 3 weeks.
If the doctor does not see diseased cells during the laparoscopic procedure, he will stop right there and not continue the surgery. In this scenario I would have CT scans twice a year to monitor the microscopic diseased cells however I would eventually have the major surgery and the HIPEC when the slow growing tumors appear.
I am feeling good now with no symptoms except... I have appendix cancer!
In the last year I have accrued expenses directly related to the cancer. I am starting a GoFundMe Campaign to help cover ongoing medical expenses, offsite housing near the hospital in January, and travel expenses to UCSD for appointments.
My GoFundMe Goal is $10,000. I greatly appreciate any amount that you are able to contribute and I hope to be back in full swing, with full energy soon—cancer free!