The top of the paper read “Carcinoma of the Appendix”

all countries, appendix cancer, carcinoma of the appendix, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

I would never have thought that my “summer flu” symptoms would lead to a diagnosis of carcinoma of the appendix. Late July in 2017, I was spreading mulch around the house with my Dad and my son. Good old Dad manned the gravel rake while Danny was busy...

We thought it was nothing more than an ovarian cyst

appendix cancer, find a specialist, mucinous appendiceal adenocarcinoma, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA)

My journey started in October 2013 (I was 53 years old), when I had an ultrasound to determine if I had gallstones or an issue with my gallbladder. I never thought it would lead to a diagnosis of Mucinous Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma. The results showed a small cyst and...

The disease was actually growing out of my belly button!

all countries, pseudomyxoma peritonei, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA)

I found out about my cancer in a roundabout way, but when I look back there were signs. I do an exercise class and I was having trouble keeping up and my belly was growing with no changes to my diet. In my head, I was thinking that was just signs of perimenopause and...

I was misdiagnosed by my first surgical oncologist

all countries, appendix cancer, find a specialist, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

When someone new to the group posts, you very often see multiple members encourage them to seek an appendix cancer specialist. That was also the case when I found the support group after I was diagnosed in June of last year. I was actually misdiagnosed by my first...

Why you should see a PMP specialist

all countries, diagnosis, find a specialist, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

I can’t say it enough… are you dealing with a PMP specialist? If not, I would say you must. They are the ones that have seen this stuff and the weird things it does. They can give better ideas as to what to do. I had the whole ovarian cancer scare…...

You have to do research to find the right medical team that is experienced in treating PMP

all countries, diagnosis, find a specialist, Pittsburg, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

I didn’t have any related symptoms before my diagnosis. I went to the urologist for some UTI treatment. The doctor (my hero) ordered a CT scan. That was the beginning of my journey. This scan showed a hot spot and four days later, the surgeon removed my appendix...

I had shortness of breath and my sides ached

all countries, survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

I was experiencing shortness of breath and my sides ached when walking around, nothing specific. I had an ultrasound which showed a large tumor which was confirmed by MRI. I had surgery at my local hospital to remove a tumor the size of a football and my diagnosis of...

Being sick

survivor's Story, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

It is difficult to write about illness. I always want to start in a different place. The narrative does not feel linear. Illness sometimes doesn’t even sound like the right word to choose. But neither does the word disease or cancer. “Being sick,” I sometimes say...

Shana raises awareness

all countries, in the news, raising awareness, Survivor's Story (USA), USA

Shana shared her story on KVUE and had a blog post published to support it. https://www.gatewaycr.org/gateway-blog/posts/2016/january/how-to-recognize-the-signs-and-symptoms-of-appendix-cancer/